The Conference (1)

Year 6 of King Jungjong’s Reign (中宗 六年) 1511 (Sinmi Year)

[Jungjong Sillok Volume 13, May 9th of the 6th Year of King Jungjong’s Reign, 1st Entry]

• • An Unusual Beast Appears

    At night, a beast resembling a dog emerged from behind Munsojeon Hall and headed towards the front royal shrine when a palace attendant, finding it strange, gave chase. But it leapt over the western wall and fled. An order was given to pursue and capture it, but to no avail.

    The court officials argued: The royal bedchambers are no place for wild beasts to enter. With a pine tree in the royal shrine burning the previous night, and this strange beast appearing tonight, such frequent abnormalities over the past few days must have an underlying cause.

…

…

…

A court official reported to the king:

“A dog-like beast was sighted at Munsojeon Hall, yet it did not enter the royal bedchambers, and a pine tree in the royal shrine burned – this seems the work of a yokai, not an ordinary beast. It is advisable to summon all the Martial Artists and Spell Masters scattered across the nation to swiftly exterminate this dog yokai.”

To which the king decreed:

“There is no history of yokai appearing in Hanyang. How can you conclude that mere wild beast was a yokai? Do not make hasty claims.”

The official then stated again:

“Though there is no history of yokai in Hanyang, the accounts of those who witnessed the beast at Munsojeon Hall match descriptions of yokai sightings.”

To which the king decreed:

“Then report on the whereabouts and actions of the Martial Artist Lee Ju-mae guarding the palace grounds and the Taoist Society’s Spell Master Oh Jung-hwan.”

The official reported:

“Upon sighting the dog-like beast, Lee Ju-mae and Oh Jung-hwan immediately mobilized to pursue it, but failed to apprehend it.”

To which the king decreed:

“If even Lee Ju-mae and Oh Jung-hwan failed to capture it, then it was undoubtedly not an ordinary beast, but the work of a yokai. Summon all the Martial Artists and Spell Masters across the nation.”

---

I was an uninvited outsider.

As an outsider, I could not simply attend such a crucial conference concerning the nation’s fate.

It was decided that I would wait at the hotel initially.

“As soon as I bring up the agenda, government personnel will rush to the hotel room for verification purposes. So please do not be alarmed, Ms. Miho, and cooperate obediently.”

The plan was roughly as follows:

First, the director would bring up the agenda during the conference proceedings.

This agenda naturally included information about me –

The blue-furred fox,

Cho Ma-gu,

The truth about the Formless Shadow and the goblins.

The director intended to truthfully disclose to the attendees that I was awaiting at the hotel room,

And then propose summoning me to the conference hall.

“I understand. But they won’t just open fire on me indiscriminately, will they?”

“They will not… At least, I’m not the only one vouching for you, Ms. Miho – there is also the Martial Artist Ms. Ha-neul, and…”

“The Taoist Society is also vouching for you. Let me reiterate, it is not merely me as an individual, but the entire Taoist Society vouching for you. Even the government cannot treat you recklessly.”

…It was somewhat daunting, truth be told.

Considering that

These people were staking their very lives on my behalf.

If things went awry, they could be branded as traitors to humanity, condemned to rot in prison for life.

I nodded to the director and said:

“I’ll trust you. I’ll wait here.”

“…Very well. Then I shall depart for now, Ms. Miho. We will meet again shortly.”

“See you later, Miho!”

“And don’t go wandering about devouring people.”

…As if I would ever do such a thing, you madman.

I had a proper grasp of the situation.

Quietly,

I would simply stay put and wait with bated breath.

---

“Haah…”

As Lee Ha-neul let out a sigh, the director gave a kindly smile and said:

“Are you worried about Ms. Miho?”

“Of course I’m worried. What if she causes another incident while I’m gone… Haah. Like crawling about the hallways on all fours, barking up a storm…”

“…Was that the nature of your concern?”

The director wore a dumbfounded look at Lee Ha-neul’s response.

It seemed he was the only one apprehensive about the impending situation.

Of those present, the figure most noticeably tense was not Ho Joon nor Lee Ha-neul, but the director himself.

To the tense director, Ho Joon nonchalantly said while picking his nose:

“Relax a bit, Director. Like Ms. Ha-neul here, I’m honestly not too worried myself.”

“That’s right. I was skeptical at first, but after talking with Miho yesterday, I realized there’s likely no need for such concern.”

When the director inquired how they could be so carefree about bringing the yokai Miho to the conference,

The two simultaneously answered:

“She’s more human than humans.”

“Miho is human.”

The director found himself convinced by their words.

---

The conference room was bustling with preparations.

Given the gravity of the matter, there were mountains of logistics to address.

Baek Nam-hun, the presiding chair of this conference, let out a sigh.

Baek Nam-hun,

Minister of the Yokai Extermination Department and a Martial Artist –

A nationally certified Martial Artist who had awakened the pinnacle of martial arts prowess.

If one spoke of the strongest among Spell Masters, Ho Joon’s name would undoubtedly arise.

And if one spoke of the strongest among Martial Artists, Baek Nam-hun’s name would invariably follow.

Baek Nam-hun had no interest in politics.

Yet there was no one more suited for Minister of the Yokai Extermination Department.

Thus, he had reluctantly assumed the ministerial post.

Until the day before his appointment, he had been an active yokai exterminator,

More interested in training successors than entering politics.

In fact, he had personally taken in and nurtured one disciple with utmost care, but

Regrettably, while gifted in martial arts itself, the disciple lacked talent for yokai extermination.

Ultimately, the disciple faded into obscurity without achieving any notable feats.

…However,

Quite recently,

News arrived that his disciple had exterminated a powerful yokai estimated to be Stage 2.

Baek Nam-hun was half-elated at his disciple’s exploits,

And half-doubtful.

‘While Ha-neul is an immensely talented Martial Artist, he should not be capable of exterminating a Stage 2 yokai.’

‘There must be something.’

‘The Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office is hiding something.’

What cemented his suspicions was undoubtedly the ‘Formless Shadow’ incident.

It had become an open secret that an ‘unknown accomplice’ was involved in exterminating the Formless Shadow.

The purpose of this conference was not only

To devise countermeasures against the powerful yokai expected to emerge, but primarily

To uncover the identity of that ‘unknown accomplice’.

Fortunately,

The director of the Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office, Lee Han-ul,

His disciple, Lee Ha-neul,

And the Taoist Society’s Spell Master Ho Joon –

All individuals directly involved were in attendance.

Baek Nam-hun intended to interrogate them directly.

Indeed, he was a capable minister possessing stern charisma.

No matter that one was his beloved disciple,

There would be no mercy in his interrogation…

“Master!”

“Ha-neul! It’s been too long!”

Wharap!

Baek Nam-hun’s tense demeanor immediately melted away upon his disciple’s arrival.

“So, I hear you exterminated a Stage 2 yokai? Well done, well done indeed!”

“Ehehe… I didn’t defeat it single-handedly. Actually, I need to tell you about that…”

“Tsk tsk, Ha-neul, haven’t I always told you to have confidence? Who are you?”

“Baek Nam-hun’s disciple.”

“Exactly, you are Baek Nam-hun’s disciple! As my one and only disciple, have confidence in yourself!”

…For all his bluster,

When it came to his beloved disciple, he was earnestly willing to lay down his life –

A master of unwavering loyalty.

“By the way, what is that massive wand you’re carrying?”

“This? It’s a goblin’s wand. A mystical wand capable of channeling ki and using verbal decrees… Something like that.”

“Heheh, don’t play pranks on your master, Ha-neul.”

“I’m telling the truth. I’ll explain the details once the conference begins. Oh, Sister Ye-seul! Long time no see! Master, I’ll go greet the others.”

“Go on, then.”

---

The directors of Yokai Extermination Offices from across the nation,

A total of ten Martial Artists and Spell Masters,

The Minister and Vice Minister of the Yokai Extermination Department,

High-ranking government officials,

Military officers including four-star generals –

Preparations for commencing the conference were complete.

The conference began by identifying the issues at hand.

Surveying those present, Baek Nam-hun opened his mouth:

“Over the past month, Stage 2 or higher yokai have been simultaneously emerging in various locations. This is a clear ominous sign and a national crisis.”

Beep.

As he pressed the remote,

Images of the ‘Blue-Furred Fox’ appeared on the screen.

Murmurs murmurs.

The mere sight of the photos exuded an inexplicable sense of dread, causing a commotion in the hall.

After the commotion settled, Baek Nam-hun continued:

“The Blue-Furred Fox. It appeared in Jiri Mountain, prompting the deployment of nationally certified Martial Artist Lee Ha-neul. The Blue-Furred Fox was exterminated by Lee Ha-neul. There were injuries, but no fatalities.”

Clap clap clap clap clap.

People applauded Lee Ha-neul and Lee Han-ul.

“…Next, Cho Ma-gu. It also appeared in Jiri Mountain and was exterminated by nationally certified Martial Artist Lee Ha-neul alongside personnel from the Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office. There were no fatalities.”

Clap clap clap clap clap.

Once more, people applauded Lee Ha-neul and Lee Han-ul.

Baek Nam-hun fixed a piercing gaze upon Lee Han-ul.

Judging by the sweat beading on his brow,

It seemed he was indeed hiding something.

“Next, the Formless Shadow.”

As the photos of the Formless Shadow appeared,

The applauding crowd fell silent.

One of the Martial Artists began sobbing audibly.

“…I express condolences for the casualties. The Formless Shadow was exterminated by the Spell Master Ho Joon and an ‘unknown accomplice’.”

Beep.

As Baek Nam-hun pressed the remote, the screen went blank.

He then continued speaking:

“Now, let us commence the main conference proceedings.”