Besides, this time, I was attacked publicly in a crowded place, and even shot at.
Someone else there could have been hit.
“Someone else could have gotten hurt because of me.”
“How can you blame yourself, Your Highness? How could you have foreseen the wicked schemes of those treacherous beings?”
“Lee Geon, that’s the third time you’ve said that word today. No television for you today.”
“Huh? But, Hyung-nim!”
Other people must not get hurt because of me, absolutely not.
I am an idol and actor who brings joy and inspiration to people.
The Royal Family’s duty?
I only found out I was a descendant of the Royal Family now, and I have no intention of abandoning the path I’ve chosen for that.
So, other people shouldn’t get caught up in catching Demons that harm people.
After I get rid of the Demons, I have to work hard on my path again.
But why attack in a place where so many people are watching?
There must be a reason for attacking openly instead of ambushing.
The people possessed by Demons, or rather, what do the Demons want? My death?
Or do they want something else, using me as a hostage?
I’m not the only descendant of the Royal Family, so it’s not related to the Royal Family, is there something only I have among the Royal Family descendants?
After thinking, my gaze reached the Four Evil Beheading Sword, which was emitting light.
{Even if it goes to someone else, its power won’t activate, but they might try to damage the Sacred object.}
If so, the attacks will continue until they take the Sacred object or destroy it.
Or they might try to use me as their ally.
{People are weak to affection. They might take Jaga’s loved ones hostage.}
Isn’t there a way to resolve this without harming others?
{Jaga, let’s get to the car first. The wound is bleeding again.}
Returning to the car, Baek Mungi, in his true form, placed his hand on my arm.
Then, the bleeding began to stop, and even the bloodstains on my skin disappeared all at once.
Watching that, I felt a sense of déjà vu.
Things disappearing all at once in the air.
“…At Gyeongbok Palace, the Figurine shattered, and the fragments and dust disappeared all at once in the air from the CCTV footage.”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I told you they might use that power.”
Lee Geon quickly replied to my mumbling, as if talking to myself.
“How did you come to inquire about that matter?”
“Seeing the blood disappear now reminded me of that.”
“Ah!”
Lee Geon slapped his knee as if he had realized something.
“Hyung-nim is right. Breaking that Figurine is similar to this ability. You fiend! Didn’t you destroy the Figurine too!”
Lee Geon scolded Baek Mungi, so I quickly said,
“Baek Mungi was trapped in the sword back then.”
“Hyung-nim, who did you hear that from? Was it that thing? Don’t trust the words of that monster. It’s a being that has deceived and harmed humans. It may have spoken falsehoods with its cunning tongue.”
“I’m not human, so my tongue is longer than three inches. Want me to show you?”
Baek Mungi growled at Lee Geon. Looking at the wound on my arm, the bleeding had stopped, and the wound was healing.
“I’m not saying Baek Mungi is the culprit who damaged the Figurine. I’m worried that the culprit might be as strong as Baek Mungi.”
Lee Geon and Baek Mungi stopped bickering.
“I failed to understand Hyung-nim’s deep meaning.”
“…Leave out the ‘I’. You’re not my subject.”
At that moment, Kim Woo-jin returned to the car.
“The Figurine team says they will continue the search. They’ve booked accommodation at the youth hostel ahead, so should we stay here too?”
“Of course. We’ll need amulets to tie down the Demon.”
* * *
Changing into casual clothes at the accommodation, I searched for the internal layout of Hwaseong Fortress on the internet.
I looked for the area near the wall where the assailant fell, but the photos mainly showed the viewing course, making it difficult to know the exact passage.
“The Metropolitan Investigation Unit has also provided support. They are currently scouring the area around the fortress, and the Provincial Police Agency is conducting inspections on nearby roads.”
But that person’s attire was too ordinary, and his face wasn’t revealed because he was wearing a mask.
“There are quite a few videos uploaded by people who were watching. We are trying to identify his height and build based on the parts where he appears.”
“Are there any special features?”
“…No. He is of average build with a height in the mid-170s, and ordinary.”
It was impossible to stop everyone passing by to search for someone carrying a firearm.
It seemed difficult to catch him this time as well.
But I wasn’t discouraged. After all, they will target me again.
I held the Baek Mungi doll and headed back to the fortress.
I wanted to find out how the assailant disappeared after falling over the wall.
There might be a secret door that others don’t know about.
* * *
{Why did you leave those two spirits behind?}
Jang Ha-woon and Lee Geon, this Hwaseong Fortress wouldn’t be new to them.
When I asked them if they knew Hwaseong Fortress, they asked back if this was Hwaseong Fortress, saying it had changed a lot and they didn’t recognize it.
At this point, I could guess when these two spirits lived.
So, I left them to rest while watching TV.
And there was something I wanted to ask Baek Mungi separately.
{Are you curious about how I moved the Four Evil Beheading Sword with my power earlier?}
And the fact that Baek Mungi manifested with a strong light from the sword was also different from usual.
{Jaga, this place seems to have been built after I was sealed in the Sacred object.}
I know that Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built by King Jeongjo.
Then, the one who made this Four Evil Beheading Sword and sealed Baek Mungi was an earlier king than King Jeongjo?
{Earlier, the restrictions binding me were somewhat loosened. That’s why I was able to move the sword and block the bullets.}
Binding? Isn’t Baek Mungi’s seal completely released?
{Just as people’s minds change when they go to the outhouse and when they come out, that Taoist… Anyway, there is something to prepare for his change of heart after my seal is released. When the covenant ends, that too will disappear. That’s why I told you before that I would never harm Jaga.}
I hadn’t walked far when I saw the fortress ahead. And right next to it, a small iron gate was open.
Considering the assailant who was running on the roof, an iron gate of such a low height was meaningless, but seeing it open, I was bothered by it and entered through that side gate.
{Anyway, what I want to tell you is that the spiritual power here is extraordinary.}
Spiritual power.
At first, it remained in the Sacred object, the Four Evil Beheading Sword.
Because of that, Baek Mungi appeared and was able to protect me.
Next, it remained in my silk thread and came to me with my childhood memories.
Then, could there be some memories left here too?
{If it’s just lingering thoughts, wouldn’t it be possible?}
“Then, where would it be?”
Even though the night was deep at the fortress, the flashlight beams of the people searching beyond the wall were moving back and forth.
{I don’t feel any spiritual power right now.}
Should I go to the place where the Four Evil Beheading Sword emitted a strong light earlier?
I wanted to hear a story, no matter whose memory it was.
I felt like I could understand why this was happening if I did.
Avoiding the confusing flashlights and people’s footsteps, I moved my steps.
* * *
I tried to go to a place where people weren’t searching, and somehow, I ended up circling the outskirts of the fortress.
Still, on the right, there was the fortress restored to its old appearance, and next to it were trees and a hill, making it quite scenic.
{How similar you are to that king who found the palace stifling…}
He must be talking about the king who sealed Baek Mungi in the Sacred object?
“They say that old kings and emperors couldn’t live as they wanted. For the sake of the people, for the sake of the country, and because of political issues. Being surrounded by unfavorable gazes would be stifling and unpleasant for anyone.”
{Now that I hear it, isn’t Jaga’s profession also like that?}
“Still, I’m a bit different. It’s a job I chose, and I have fans who support me.”
So, I don’t think my job is stifling or has many restrictions.
I just need to show a correct and good image.
As I walked, a gaunt tree appeared in the darkness.
The pitifully thin tree was so large that I had to crane my neck to see its end.
{Humans must have put a lot of effort into saving the tree.}
It looked like an old tree like the fragrant tree of Changdeok Palace, so I approached it, hoping for something.
But there was no change.
Disappointed, I looked up at the end of the tree again.
Then, I quickly turned around. I heard someone humming.
{Jaga, I don’t hear anything.}
The sound came from beyond the corner of the building with the yard where the tree was.
Following the sound around the corner, the entrance to the building appeared.
{There is a lot of energy filled inside there, but I don’t know what kind of lingering thoughts it is.}
The place Baek Mungi was talking about was a wide platform-like area that could be reached by climbing several steps.
There were no walls, only several red and round pillars, making the inside clearly visible.
That platform-like place must have been where a person of high rank was.
So, thinking that that was where the spiritual power or lingering thoughts would be, I climbed the stairs.
{Jaga, wait…}
Baek Mungi seemed flustered by something.
Is the power that helped Baek Mungi earlier now blocking Baek Mungi? Is it dangerous?
But the sound that called me was humming a song.
It didn’t seem like a bad person, or rather, a ghost.
Even if it’s a Demon, I’ll have to meet it eventually.
As my foot landed on the last step, a white light greeted me.
When the light disappeared, the scene before my eyes was strange.
I had clearly climbed onto the platform where the red and round pillars were erected.
But now, I could see the yard with the tall, gaunt tree that I had passed by a little while ago.
Moreover, it was bright daylight. A warm breeze gently shook my hair.
Was it not an illusion?
And in my hand, I was holding a heavy bow.
I had done archery a few times because I went to the Idol Star Athletics Championships every holiday, and I was quite good at shooting arrows.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that bow is the same as this bow. The bow in my hand was a traditional bow called a Korean bow.
– Swoosh!
I didn’t even shoot, but an arrow left the string and flew away.
The arrow that flew far away to the target board hit slightly off-center.
A slightly disappointing skill.
“It is etiquette not to hit the center with the last arrow out of fifty.”
A dignified voice was heard. Where was it coming from?
But is there such an etiquette?
“I was secretly expecting something since a descendant had come, but how can he be such a lackluster fellow? More gaunt than that tree.”
No, ancestor, I have subtle inner muscles.
That’s why my fans like that my suit looks good on me.
“This is where I used to come to shoot arrows and rest whenever I made a procession. I even wrote that signboard myself.”
Signboard, huh.
The Chinese characters written on the signboard were things I couldn’t read.
The only Chinese character I could recognize was… Middle (Middle), I know that one at least.
“I was going to come here and live as the retired king after abdicating. I closed my eyes earlier than I thought, and I was very sorry about that. So, I left a little of my heart here. Of course, everything has been redecorated over time.”
Abdication, retired king? Then, does that mean this person was a king?