Episode 166 Unintended Luck (2)
The guide, Changseong, continued to talk in a rambling manner.
“The Seoul branch of the Association is the second largest in the world. Why? After all, Korea is a country that plays a pivotal role in the hero world. It may not be a large country, but its influence is by no means weak. And I also have a lot of affection for Korea. I was also Joaquin’s student. Anyway, the Seoul branch stores nearly half of the artifacts that are appropriate for its size. One of them is the monolith you are looking for.”
Kanggeomma looked at his back and thought, “He’s a big guy, but his tongue is really long. He talks more than most teenage girls.”
Media was initially annoyed by Changseong’s ramblings, but soon stopped. She just let him babble on. Still, this was an improvement.
“We’ve arrived.”
Eventually, they arrived at the door. It was a huge door that took up an entire wall in height and width. It was made of machined titanium and prevented unauthorized access.
Changseong nodded to one of the agents accompanying him. The agent quickly put his thumb into the fingerprint recognition device.
Profit.
The titanium iron door opened as if splitting in two. Changseong gave orders to the agents who were following him.
“You guys wait outside.”
Kanggeomma looked around the interior as he walked slowly. There were numerous objects placed inside the glass case. He could tell at a glance that they were valuables.
‘The atmosphere is very sci-fi.’
The floor was filled with smoke mixed with a chemical smell. It was specially processed oxygen sprayed to prevent damage to the treasures, Changsung explained.
Kanggeomma nodded to Changseong, who was very proud. Changseong smiled with satisfaction and continued to guide him.
After walking for 5 minutes, a dolmen was right there.
‘…That’s a monolith?’
The stone was very large and imposing. But that was all. Kanggeomma couldn’t hide his bewilderment, and Changseong noticed and added.
“Hahaha, that’s as expected. Didn’t Manager Seong say that? On the outside, he just looks like a rock.”
“I heard. I thought it was a metaphor… but it’s a real stone, so I’m a bit confused. To the point where I doubt if it’s an artifact.”
Changseong answered Kanggeomma’s words.
“Don’t worry, it’s definitely an artifact. The association’s researchers have been investigating it for years and have concluded that it’s an artifact. Don’t be too disappointed. Look, do you see these charcoal drawings? They contain a complete picture of how our ancestors lived.”
When I looked closely, I could clearly see that there were patterns carved into them. They were pictures depicting primitive life.
“Not only that. The person who drew this is the only surviving ancient person… … .”
Changseong stopped talking and glanced at Media. Her cold green eyes were staring at him.
Media folded her arms and said nothing. Changseong coughed loudly. He suddenly patted Ganggeomma on the back.
“Anyway, that’s all for my guidance. Media and I will go up to the reception room. If you need anything, just call the agent on the intercom over there.”
Kang Geum-ma was puzzled by this cheerful favor. It wasn’t that he was offended. Quite the opposite.
Still, what is curious is curious. Why is Changseong so kind?
As the media said, were you trying to gently coax them into coming to the association? Kanggeomma didn’t seem to think so.
Even when I looked at his face to read his thoughts, Changseong just laughed heartily.
Come to think of it, Changseong didn’t even ask why he approached the monolith. He was curious enough to be curious.
Even if it’s a reward, how could you leave it in a place full of ghosts, knowing what they’re going to do? Isn’t it something you can just turn around and sneak away with?
Before the two disappeared, Kanggeomma asked Changseong’s broad back.
“We’re just meeting for the first time, so why are you doing this to me? Even if it’s compensation, if I were left here alone, what would you think I would do?”
Changseong turned his head halfway. The corners of his mouth went up like a hero.
“The weak don’t question the actions of the strong. You are far stronger than me. So I just follow my beliefs.”
“… … .”
“I know what you’re thinking when you ask that question. I wonder how I can trust you and leave you in this treasure vault. But what’s the big deal? Compared to the thousands of lives you’ve saved, you little beasts are nothing but useless. So do what you want to do. The old ones will leave now, hahaha!”
The laughter that bounced off the titanium only stopped when his back was hidden in shadow.
After the two Chilseong people disappeared, Kanggeomma looked in that direction for a while. Then he approached the monolith again. Then he looked closely at the picture carved into the stone and muttered.
“It’s an ancient mural depicting a hunting scene… … .”
Kang Geum-ma narrowed his brows. The more he observed the painting, the more he realized that it was not a simple mural.
The appearance of the hunter and the prey were similar. The only difference was that the hunter had wings on his back, while the prey did not. It could not help but be a very repulsive picture.
Kang Geum-ma hesitated for a moment and then extended his hand. His eyes were filled with anticipation, separate from his appreciation.
Will the status window pop up like it did during ‘The Sword Master’s Long-Awaited Wish’? I thought so as my palm touched the cold, rough stone surface.
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[NEW! A surprise quest occurs.]
We are reading someone’s memories from the mythical era.
[※ It is possible to obtain the second fragment of memory of 【???】. Total number of acquisitions (1/7).]
[※ This quest can be cleared just by looking at it.]
[※ However, additional rewards cannot be obtained when moving the body.]
== ==
Would you like to accept the quest? (Y/N)
[????Time left until acceptance – 0:03]
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I was momentarily dazed by the status window that appeared. Just looking at it, it was clear? Back then, I had fought with myself, but compared to that, it was unexpected luck. To put it in common parlance, it was a piece of cake.
Oh my gosh… … .
But then, a rush of emotion seeped through my fingertips and into my ears. A voice like a wail possessed by evil.
At that moment, Kang Geum-ma’s head shook reflexively in confusion. The pent-up emotions were stabbing his spine like needles.
… … !
Kanggeomma was so startled that he almost pulled his hand away. However, his mind started to dizzy before his thoughts could catch up.
(Y/N)
▲
* * *
Seoul branch reception room.
“For now, our academy will organize it like this and distribute it to the press… I don’t think reporters will have to worry about news stories for a while. I’m dying.”
“Instead, let the Hero Association handle the rest. Please take care of it until then.”
Changseong received Media’s words with a solemn expression.
Media, who had placed a stack of documents on the table, let out a short laugh.
“Gorilla, how did you get so smart without me noticing? Are you the guy who used to sit behind you one or two times during your cadet days?”
“The human brain is also a muscle. If you train your body consistently, your intelligence will naturally increase!”
Media shook her head. She had been up all night for several days, and her stamina was running low.
“… It was my fault for saying that. By the way, earlier you… almost said something about my ancestors, right?”
“I, I’m sorry about that. Stop being so careful with your words. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“Fine. I didn’t intend to keep it a secret forever. Everyone around me already knows this. But I wanted to tell you with my own mouth.”
“… … .”
“I am a descendant of a human race that has been punished by heaven.”
* * *
Phew.
A cool breeze blew. The rice swayed like golden waves.
The harvest of grain was in full swing among those wearing tanned leather.
They were cutting rice while holding crudely made tools: iron tools, swords.
Although from a modern perspective it was something between a sword and a sickle, the ancients simply called it a sword.
It provided convenience to the ancient people. It helped in the easy harvest of crops and improved the quality of hunting. Thanks to this, the task of survival was solved.
All of this was the advancement brought about by the sword. Until a few years ago, the ancient people bowed deeply to the sky and prayed and prayed. They worshipped the heavenly beings, hoping that they would receive even a little rain. Their lives were a shackle that ended with one prayer after another.
The sword liberated the ancients from such worldly shackles. They were able to lead a moderate life with their own hands. So, there was never a day when a proud smile left their lips.
Now, there is no need to pray to heaven anymore. The passive attitude towards life has changed to an active one.
In this way, the celestial beings were quickly forgotten by mankind.
And it didn’t take long to realize that this was the beginning of the end.
·
·
·
A young girl wove flower buds, twisting them tightly into a crown. It was a wreath she made for her father who was coming back from hunting.
“I bet Dad would like this too?!”
The girl, who had finished preparing the surprise gift, looked around her surroundings. The harvest was in full swing. The adults were picking up the ears of corn that they had cut with their own tools.
“Hehehe. Today too, rice and meat side dish~”
As I watched, I felt full already. A bashful laugh came out of the girl’s mouth.
… Kuuung
At that moment, thunder rumbled through the clear sky. The girl suddenly raised her eyes. And her bright eyes grew wide.
“yes?”
A man was standing in the cloudless sky. How could he be floating in the air? Then she noticed something else. He was standing proudly in the air, his feathers fluttering.
The man standing tall had wings on his back. They were a pair of pure white feathers. Suddenly, I remembered what my grandmother had said.
Until my grandmother was her age, there were beings that people were looking for, and their representatives would occasionally show up… … .
“Angel!”
A sudden thought occurred to me and I clapped my hands.
Who would have thought that I would see that angel! The unrealistic sight was so amazing to her. She was too young to discern right from wrong.
She opened her eyes again and decided to capture the angel’s appearance.
“Wow, it’s really pretty.”
The girl let out a sigh of admiration without realizing it. The more she looked at it, the more breathtaking its beauty became.
But, for a moment.
Ss …
The number of angels that had been one began to increase one by one. Five, six, seven. The girl gave up counting when the number exceeded the number of fingers. She just stared blankly up at the dots that were multiplying infinitely.
Eventually, the shadows cast by the angels covered the entire wilderness. Only when the sky was completely filled did the adults tilt their heads back.
“I, that’s… … !”
The village elder shouted. He was terrified, his face turning pale. Fear seeped into the staff he held.
Why are you doing that? As the girl tilted her head, a voice rang out in her head. She covered her head with a soaring headache.
“It’s a shame.”
The sound was heard in fragments. The agents of the stars. Their voices were one and whole.
“In the end, this generation will also end in failure and be immersed in the devil.”
Phew oh my
The horn blew. The angels lowered their posture.
“Oh, stars.”
Countless wings flapped as if they had made a promise.
“We will carry out the divine punishment.”
The ivory feathers caught the light and then immediately fell apart. They flew at a speed that was too fast for the eye to see, sweeping across the ground. In an instant, the land that had been yellow with ears of wheat turned dark red.
The girl looked around with a puzzled face.
The heads of women harvesting rice fell off lightly like rice seeds. The men who went out hunting had their sides torn open and their entrails spilled out. The wings of angels were soaked with human blood and they flew heavy.
Anyone who saw this sight would also meet the same fate.
“… … .”
A red wing swung in front of her. The girl let go of the flower crown she had been clutching. The winged monster opened its mouth.
“You are young. But don’t worry. The stars have promised not to touch you again from the next generation.”
The angel raised his hand, which was entangled with entrails and blood.
“So close your eyes, little failure.”
The girl did not cry. Only her eyes sparkled like porcelain, inorganic glass.
Tsk-
Just then, a tongue-clicking sound was heard from behind. My gaze naturally turned to that spot.
“How can I just stay still like this? Tolerate touching a child, even if it’s just an illusion?”
A man with black hair and very strange clothing. He was the only black man in the middle of the pure white hell. He pulled out a short, long blade.
“And these guys are angels? Damn, even if you hit them well, they’re just pigeon chicks acting as God’s agents.”
Kiririn, there was a creaking sound. At that moment, all the angels wiggled their eyebrows. All eyes were focused on Kanggeomma.
Kiiing, the blade filled with anger cried out louder. Kanggeomma closed and opened his eyes.
The sword is the will to live made of iron, and it is a human tool that contains the pioneering spirit.
[The protection of the Sword God is manifested.]
It is also a weapon for killing enemies.
