Requiem of Subdued Souls

Chapter 64: Praying For Rain (2)

“I remember the words you said before about how you got the face mask that day.”

“And how did I get it?”

“The GO rooms. You said you asked for it there, and I guess I will have to go there to find out.”

“Oh…”

Seol Young thought,

‘It isn’t like he cannot think.’

On the other hand, after Zaha said that, his expression changed.

“Wait. At that time, the situation was so urgent that I just passed it off… was there an information room in the castle?”

“Yes. It’s the Black and White Hall.”

Zaha tilted his head.

“The GO rooms are near the royal tombs?”

“Yes, right there.”

Before he could even ask further questions, Seol Young spoke quickly,

“Let’s go there.”

“…”

He had no choice but to follow. And the couple, who were preparing the tea, were surprised and asked,

“You are going to the Moon Palace?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“The GO rooms.”

“Uh?”

When they heard where they were going, the couple’s eyes went wide, and the two men left them as the couple stared at their backs.

“There is one thing you must do.”

As soon as Seol Young came out, he warned him,

“In my case, I was a low-level Hwarang who was able to sneak in and out. However, if the fact that you, the High Governor, went there is discovered, they will be shocked. And it would ruin things.”

“I am not so stupid.”

“Then will you be able to stay quiet and act naturally? And what will you do?”

“Are you really asking that?”

Zaha replied.

But staying silent wasn’t enough.

If either of them was alone, then blending in with people was easy, but the two of them going there was too much, and people would notice.

‘We will have to cover him up a bit.’

With that thought, Seol Young headed for the market.

In the forest near the royal tombs, at the ‘Black and White Hall,’ where the GO rooms are.

It was also a lucky day.

There were many people who played GO here, but there were even more people playing GO today. In addition, there were people selling some snacks and tea. It all felt like one small thing, and everyone would run away to avoid being seen.

At this place, two people in black clothes appeared.

This GO place wasn’t one to be ashamed of. But wherever they went, there were a lot of people who didn’t want to reveal their identities.

So, there were quite a few people who covered their faces with dark clothes, hats, or veils on their heads.

So the two of them didn’t stand out, and Seol Young led the path.

“When it comes to playing GO, I understand that this is a Criminal Room where you can look for clues, but…”

“Is this some hidden thing?”

Zaha looked around closely. Only then did they find the door and go inside.

“Is it here?”

“No.”

Once they entered, there were people in the Heavenly People Room. And that was what Seol Young looked at.

“Here.”

“….”

There were three words on the door. Zaha looked around and turned toward the room with an absurd look on his face.

It was natural to be curious. If everyone knew about it, then it wouldn’t be a hidden world.

“Be quiet from now on.”

Seol Young looked at him as if to warn him. It was the same room he went to last time.

The man seemed to have won quite a few games and was still sitting there.

Seol Young guided Zaha.

“This way.”

After waiting, they managed to get a table, and the two of them sat.

“It is you.”

The man beyond the veil recognized Seol Young.

The opponent’s hand reached right for the board. Anyone could see that the hand wasn’t a human one but one with claws for nails.

“…?”

Zaha’s expression changed.

He might have expected something odd from the person who gave the information to Seol Young, and as Zaha saw it himself, his eyes went sharp, and he touched his sword.

There was no sound, nor was there any killing intent.

However, the one behind the veil could feel it.

“This man?”

“My client.”

Seol Young silently said.

“He seems hot-blooded.”

“Aha.”

The man just continued.

“But since you didn’t bring anything with you, isn’t it just a deal? Surely playing GO is good, but it’s better to trade here….”

“It is a deal.”

Seol Young said.

“Last time I asked you to find something. I came back because I wanted to know something about that request.”

“What do you want to know?”

“I want to know how you found that foreign object.”

“I cannot say that.”

The man flat-out rejected him.

“Why would I say it? Disclosing it wouldn’t be right for business. What idiot would take up such a deal?”

Instead of answering, Seol Young took out a pouch from his sleeve and untied the string around it. Then he took out an object and placed it on the checkerboard.

“It was with the tombs where I picked up the colored jade.”

But before opening the cloth around the object he took out, Seol Young turned to Zaha,

‘What? What now?’

Zaha asked with his eyes.

And the next moment, his eyes widened as if saying, ‘What are you doing?’

And he opened up the cloth, revealing the index finger of a human.

It was one of the last remaining dangerous items buried at the foot of Mount Toham.

This finger.

Has it been a hundred years? No, a thousand years. But the finger didn’t even rot a little. In its original state, it held a very dark, ominous aura.

The mere fact that a Hwarang possessed such an item meant this was something to report.

“…”

It was getting more and more dangerous. Zaha turned his head and looked away.

On the other hand, the man was too engrossed in the object.

He wasn’t sure if it tallied with the jade given the last time, but as it was right in front of him, he wanted to covet it.

Owning this would be like completing a collection.

“Fine.”

The man growled.

“You do not speak about it, and just this once.”

“I know.”

Seol Young replied.

“This is the first and last time. I will never ask for such a deal again. I don’t need anything else. I just need to know how you found the foreign object.”

“That…”

The man finally said,

“It is an object that the people of the Apryang nation used.”

“The Apryang nation?”

Seol Young asked, and Zaha, who was silent, looked their way again.

He seemed to have taken quite an interest in this new piece of information. He seemed eager to listen and say something, but Seol Young gave him a sign to keep his mouth shut.

The Apryang nation or the Apduk nation.

It was the name of a weak nation that belonged to a nearby region.

The nation was known to have perished.

However, they never came to Silla and chose to live in their own land until the end, preserving their culture for hundreds of years. It could be said that it was a small nation within Silla.

“Right.”

The man said.

“For five days, I wandered around the old ruins of their land and then finally found that thing. It was buried twelve feet deep in the ground.”

“Just one?”

“Yes. Even if you go there, I don’t think you will find another one.”

“Uh?”

There was silence.

Seol Young couldn’t see the man, but he could feel his eyes staring right at him.

“By any chance…”

Eventually, he said,

“If you really have to find it, go to a place called Bakdalgol.”

Seol Young asked,

“Is it a village in Apryang?”

“Yes. But even if you go, it will be useless.”

“Why?”

“That information isn’t included in this deal. I even gave you a little more favor.”

“I understand. So heading to Apryang will work.”

Seol Young said.

“This ends our deal.”

As soon as he said that, the man reached out and grabbed the finger. And at that moment, in the excitement, five long nails appeared, snatched it, and vanished.

Seol Young pretended not to see anything and got up.

Zaha followed him, and they went out of the room and back into the GO rooms.

As soon as he came out, Zaha said,

“That…”

“Do not worry. He will not do anything bad with that finger. He just had a hard time controlling his emotions. Just as humans collect the body parts of the Yokais’.”

“Not that…”

“The owner of the finger said it was fine. He told me to take it and use it as I want.”

“Not that…”

“Use it? Then that person will never be safe either. Just being with me will make you an accomplice. We did this together.”

“Let me talk!”

Zaha cried out.

“Did it hurt you so much just because you showed that finger? It doesn’t even matter now!”

“Then?”

“You know what those guys are like! What do you see in that Yokai that makes you believe what it said?”

Ah, that was what he was talking about.

Seol Young went silent and said, being a bit embarrassed,

“I don’t believe it either, but rather its desire to seek profit. And you must have sensed that it wants to continue trading in the future, right? Who else will bring it such things?”

“So there is no other choice, is that what you are saying?”

“There is nothing wrong with making people believe there is more to things. If it wants to keep doing business with me, then there is no need for it to lie or give false information.”

“I am not saying it’s fake…”

Zaha frowned.

“That Yokai’s way of talking is quite unpleasant. It seems that something bad happened when he went into that village. Did you not feel it?”

“I felt nothing…”

Seol Young looked at Zaha like he was saying something strange.

He thought for a moment.

And Zaha suddenly said,

“There is one thing you need to realize.”

“What is that?”

“That you are very lucky.”

Seol Young asked curiously.

“Why?”

PR/N: Zaha is surprised that the information dealer Seol Young has been getting information from is actually a Yokai.