What is a Samin Sword?
{Since a Sain Sword is made in the year, month, day, and hour of the Tiger, you can think of a Samin Sword as being made only in the month, day, and hour of the Tiger.}
Then, is its effect on slaying Demons a bit weaker?
{It seems so. But you can make them every year.}
“And it’s said that I’m not possessed by Demons because I carry this sword. If a sword made in modern times is also effective, it seems like we can prevent the agents from being possessed by Demons.”
“Where did you get that information?”
Kim Woo-jin looked at me as if asking if he could reveal the source.
Since we’d already been caught having it, it would be strange to hide it, so I called Baek Mungi.
“Explain it to them yourself.”
Before I could finish speaking, a large shadow loomed over me.
He must have really wanted to come out. When I see him like this, he seems to have more of a celebrity vibe than I do.
Wanting attention… what was it called.
The eyes of everyone in the conference room focused on the back of the chair I was sitting on.
People staring intently, people swallowing hard, and the Director of the National Intelligence Service gripping the armrests of his chair tightly.
Everyone was surprised, though they didn’t show it.
Still, compared to when Kim Woo-jin shot at Baek Mungi the first time he saw him, these were mild reactions.
Baek Mungi, having revealed his massive form, circled the conference room once, passing behind the people sitting in their chairs.
Fortunately, Baek Mungi didn’t bring out his tail, so there was no sense of incongruity in him walking around like a person.
“There’s no one here.”
“You mean someone possessed by a Demon?”
The Director of the National Intelligence Service asked Baek Mungi back.
Seeing Baek Mungi doing something he didn’t necessarily have to do, it seemed like he was trying to seize the initiative.
In short, he was putting on a performance.
“Baek Mungi, sit down now.”
“Yes, Jaga.”
Baek Mungi, having pushed the person sitting next to me to the side along with their chair, brought another chair and sat next to me.
Baek Mungi’s white, long hair fluttered beside me.
“What should I explain first?”
Baek Mungi bared his fangs and grinned like a villain.
* * *
We had no choice but to reveal Baek Mungi, who was clearly captured on the action cam, as well as the existence of Jang Ha-woon and Lee Geon.
However, I added the explanation that they were spirits and couldn’t show themselves in certain situations.
When the people from the National Intelligence Service said they were amazed by the scene of the talisman sticking right onto the Demon’s eye, Lee Geon even put on a show of throwing talismans.
“Why is a talisman sticking to my body? Could it be…”
The person who had the talisman stuck to their body asked fearfully.
“You seem to have particularly weak energy among us, so I prescribed a talisman to ward off the Epidemic Ghost. If you keep it on the spot where it’s attached for a while, then fold it up carefully and carry it around, it will prevent infectious diseases.”
“Wow…”
“Can I get one too?”
Can talismans really prevent infectious diseases?
There are so many terrible infectious diseases these days.
I still can’t believe that far.
Of course, I have to believe that it can stop a Demon from moving for an hour, since I’ve actually seen it.
{Tsk, tsk, wanting to show off so much.}
Listening to Baek Mungi clicking his tongue, who was huddled next to me, overshadowed by Lee Geon’s talisman-throwing performance, I just wanted to go home and rest.
* * *
The name of the dedicated team was decided as ‘Figurine.’
It was named based on the conclusion that the damage to Figurines and the appearance of Demons were connected.
It’s a bit strange, but it’s not like it’s a name that will be used externally, so who cares.
Of course, it was a safe choice compared to other candidates like Ghost Busters, Demon-Hunting Marines, and the Exorcism Task Force.
It was decided to create a Figurine team of up to 30 people as soon as a Sain Sword or Samin Sword was obtained, with Kim Woo-jin and I as the main people in charge.
Of course, with Baek Mungi, Jang Ha-woon, and Lee Geon by my side, the main team’s personnel could be said to be closer to 5 people.
If Baek Mungi, Jang Ha-woon, and Lee Geon are counted as people.
The new production of the Samin Sword was postponed to next year.
This was because the month of the Tiger had already passed.
Fortunately, the professor who had been making Samin Swords every year had already made one this year with his graduate students, so we secured it for now.
And I am currently examining the Samin Sword that was made this year.
“It’s weak, but it should prevent possession by Demons.”
According to Baek Mungi, the newly made Samin Sword didn’t have the power to slay and eliminate Demons, but it had the function of protecting the body from Demons.
“That’s a relief. Then, does that mean the Figurine team will come as a follow-up when we move?”
“If possible, simultaneous operations are best, but that’s what we’ll have to do to avoid being seen by people.”
“It’ll be cumbersome for everyone to carry swords around.”
“I think they’ll think it’s better than being possessed by a Demon and shooting themselves in the head.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to come after the Demon has been eliminated?”
Wouldn’t it be better to just clean up the scene without worrying about being possessed by a Demon?
It would be dangerous if they don’t have the ability to eliminate Demons.
“The National Intelligence Service will be more comfortable intervening in stage 2, when they collapse and have to be taken to the hospital, and stage 3, when they have to subdue the person. And the agents do a lot of tougher things than this, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
It’s reassuring that the National Intelligence Service is backing me up. But…
The Figurine team was formed because stage 3 appeared after stage 2, so it’s not something to be welcomed.
It means that there are that many strong Demons roaming around.
How many more Demons are there as strong as the Demon that possessed the National Intelligence Service agent?
I unknowingly let out a long breath.
“Is there something you don’t like?”
At Jang Ha-woon’s question, I shook my head.
There must be a reason why the Sacred object appeared.
So we should take it as a given that there are many strong Demons and prepare for them.
* * *
Filming was scheduled in front of Suwon Hwaseong, including Paldalmun Gate.
The Suwon Hwaseong filming, which wasn’t in the plan, was due to a post on an online community.
[Will the video of Lee Young filming with a person wearing a warrior’s outfit at Suwon Hwaseong also be released as a promotional video?]
Among the photos posted along with the eyewitness account, there was one taken near Suwon Hwaseong, and people’s memories were extraordinary, so they didn’t forget it.
In the post, ‘a person wearing a warrior’s outfit’ referred to Jang Ha-woon, who was wearing a military uniform, and his face was clearly captured in the photo, even though he’s a ghost.
They say ghosts aren’t reflected in mirrors and aren’t captured in photos.
That ghost is currently excited about the upcoming filming, and his feet are about 20cm off the ground.
“He’s going to achieve enlightenment at this rate.”
Among modern things, the one that Jang Ha-woon likes the most is TV.
He was enthusiastic about all genres, including dramas, news, entertainment shows, movies, and live streaming.
When I told him that he had to film a video with me, Jang Ha-woon rushed to ask.
“Can I appear on that too?”
What Jang Ha-woon was pointing at was,
of course, the TV.
When I said yes, Jang Ha-woon demanded that Baek Mungi return his clothes and Baek Mungi got annoyed.
“Foolish, do you think the people of today would have made the old clothes exactly the same? We have to use illusion anyway because they’re different.”
“You! Your words are very disrespectful!”
Lee Geon said something to Baek Mungi, but Baek Mungi didn’t seem to be listening, and Jang Ha-woon was too excited to scold Baek Mungi.
Seeing how much he liked it, I felt relatively sorry for Lee Geon and Baek Mungi.
But I couldn’t hold a doll for the filming concept, and there was no place for a government official wearing a ceremonial robe and hat.
* * *
The filming concept for today, where Jang Ha-woon is allowed but Lee Geon isn’t, was decided to be showing off the Martial Arts 24 Skills in front of Hwaseong Haenggung’s Sinpungnu Pavilion.
Since there was already a performance team that regularly performed Martial Arts 24 Skills around Suwon Hwaseong, we decided to just piggyback on them.
I thought we were filming in an indoor performance hall because there was a Jeongjo theme performance hall, but the filming location was outdoors.
“Suwon Hwaseong is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Military officers showing off their martial arts with Hwaseong Haenggung, a World Heritage Site, in the background, and the Crown Prince inspecting them. Wow! It’s already a masterpiece!”
The outdoor filming was decided due to the director’s claim.
Well, a performance hall is a place for performances regardless of the weather, so it seemed like it would be better to film a promotional video for tourism outdoors.
But outdoor filming often has the problem of attracting people, so I wondered if it would be okay.
*
Creak
Kim Woo-jin came into the waiting room with two sets of clothes for filming.
One was the military uniform that Kim Woo-jin would wear, and Baek Mungi decided to use illusion on Jang Ha-woon after seeing this.
But the other one was a dress with so many flashy decorations that it was burdensome.
“It’s the outfit that the Crown Prince wore in a certain drama.”
Was the concept for today to shout, “I’m Royal Family!”
I took the burdensome clothes and went to find the director.
“The reenactment of King Jeongjo’s procession also takes place every year in Suwon Hwaseong. I’ve even come to see it. So I set the concept as King Jeongjo directly watching the martial arts demonstration of the military officers.”
“Me as King Jeongjo?”
“But a dragon robe is too much, right? So I compromised with the Crown Prince’s outfit that appeared in a fusion historical drama that was popular overseas. It doesn’t match history, but it’s fusion, fusion.”
“Isn’t it too much?”
I timidly resisted, but the director urged me while looking at the equipment setting situation.
“Hurry up and change. Is Lee Young cool-toned? The color of the clothes will look good on you.”
I came back to the waiting room with the clothes without any gain, and Kim Woo-jin and Jang Ha-woon were already waiting, wearing the same military uniforms.
Jang Ha-woon’s face seemed to be full of life, even though he’s a ghost.
“Sigh…”
It’s enough if even one person is happy.
* * *
The hanbok, with a red vest layered over a blue outfit, looked luxurious at a glance.
Luxurious patterns were embroidered on the straps tied around the waist and on the shoulder parts of the vest.
In particular, there was a large circular golden decoration in the center of the vest, as if shouting, “I’m Royal Family!”
Instead of a gat, I wore a red band around my forehead, with a golden pattern in the very center.
Since the stylist team didn’t come because Jang Ha-woon had to show himself, I received Lee Geon’s help in getting dressed.
According to the staff’s explanation, it was the outfit that the Crown Prince wore when riding a horse in the drama.
After getting a final outfit check from the staff and going outside, the Martial Arts 24 Skills performance team had already started filming.
“Cut! Wait a minute. You two, come here!”
The director called Kim Woo-jin and Jang Ha-woon and stood them in front of the performance team.
“Just do the movements you practiced earlier.”
“Yes!”
Jang Ha-woon answered loudly, unlike Kim Woo-jin, who just nodded.
“Oh, this person is energetic. Okay, let’s go again. Shoot!”
I was focusing on Jang Ha-woon, not wanting to miss the rare sight of a ghost filming with people, when the horse I was riding in was uncomfortable and snorted.
I was a beginner who was riding a horse for the first time, but the horse was an experienced professional who had filmed before, so it was calm even with me, a complete beginner, on its back.
“Sorry, am I heavy? I’ve gained some weight lately. But just wait a little bit and it’ll be your turn.”
I was whispering to the horse when the director called me.
“The Crown Prince is coming in. Shoot!”
I endured the burdensome title and changed my expression to filming mode.
When the staff lightly touched the horse, the horse moved on its own.
The horse slowly went to the military officers who were showing off their martial arts.
I laughed when I saw Jang Ha-woon and Kim Woo-jin among the military officers.
“The Crown Prince’s expression is good!”
Isn’t the director’s tension too high?
I was starting to worry about the escalating atmosphere of the filming set.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.