The Conference (3)

Year 25 of King Jungjong’s Reign (中宗 二十五年) 1530 (Gyeongin Year)

[Jungjong Sillok Volume 68, July 16th of the 25th Year of King Jungjong’s Reign, 1st Entry]

• • • • The Queen Dowager’s Residence, Royal Palace, Queen’s Residence, Crown Prince’s Consort, and Crown Prince Relocate to Gyeongbokgung

The Queen Dowager’s residence was relocated to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The Royal Palace, Queen’s Residence, and Crown Prince’s Consort relocated together at this time, with the Crown Prince relocating last.

At the Queen Dowager’s bedchambers where she resides, even in broad daylight, a strange beast presumed to be a yokai repeatedly pounded on the window walls and taunted her with uncanny objects.

It engaged in all manner of outrageous behavior whenever the King was not present, necessitating the relocation.

Yi Jeong-mae, the son of Yi Ju-mae and highest-ranking Martial Artist, reported:

“Seven Martial Artists searched the Queen Dowager’s residence, yet not a single one found the black dog.”

To which the king decreed:

“If the Queen Dowager, Queen, and Crown Prince’s Consort witnessed the black dog, then explain how you all failed to find it.”

To which he reported:

“I dare presume the black dog possesses some uncanny ability to conceal its form.”

When asked what should be done, Yi Jeong-mae further reported:

“The black dog has begun its mischief anew, and we failed to capture it as before. This exceeds human capability. Since it mocks the royal family and damages royal property, perhaps we should seek the aid of a spiritual beast?”

To which the king decreed his assent.

---

Sniff sniff.

“Mom, that sister is so weird! She’s crawling on all fours!”

“Shh… Didn’t I tell you not to talk to strange people!”

Sniff sniff sniff.

“What a crazy bitch…”

“She does look unhinged… But with that great body and pretty face, why is she behaving like that?”

Sniff sniff sniff.

Sniff sniff sniff sniff.

“Is she an influencer?”

“Maybe she received a broadcasting mission.”

Sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff.

“Wow… Did you see that body?”

“Should we try talking to her?”

“Nah, she clearly looks batshit insane.”

Ah,

With my senses heightened, I could hear people’s whispered comments too clearly.

After leaving the hotel room, I moved to track the source of that ‘unpleasant scent’ –

A moment requiring me to fully unleash my fox instincts.

Unlike the instinct training with Lee Ha-neul, I wagged my tails freely,

Twitched my ears,

And crawled on all fours.

This, in the midst of a crowded downtown street no less.

Naturally,

It was a shameful, unsightly, and embarrassing spectacle –

Behavior unbecoming of someone supported by the director and others.

Yet I was sufficiently willing to risk all that because

This ‘unidentified scent’ made me uneasy.

From past experience, I knew that

Exterminating yokai swiftly was ideal.

An attitude of ‘A yokai has appeared, so I’ll get around to it’ was dangerous.

Preemptive measures had to be taken before an incident occurred, not after –

By which point hundreds or thousands might have perished already.

Rather than witness more needless deaths,

It was far wiser to take the risk of fully unleashing my instincts to actively track this ‘unidentified scent’.

Still, I had taken the minimal precaution of

Leaving a fox-fire message for the director: ‘It seems a yokai has appeared in Seoul, so I will investigate.’

The director would surely understand.

And if he did not, so be it…

The lives of others took precedence over any obligation to the director.

Unbridling my instincts,

Expanding my senses,

“Grrrrrowl… Woof.”

Fox sounds naturally flowed from my mouth.

The gazes of passersby turned toward me –

Looks of scorn, as if watching a madwoman.

Curious stares, finding me an oddity.

Even scorching gazes filled with desire.

Not the most pleasant assortment of attention, but

Since it had come to this, I resolved to locate the scent’s source posthaste.

Pitter-patter!

Soon I was dashing down the streets, hot on the trail of the scent.

It was undoubtedly far swifter to run on all fours than just two legs, albeit

My hands would get dirtier, though I could simply cleanse them with fox-fire later on.

Splat.

“Fucking hell!”

I stepped in gum.

No, to be precise,

I got gum on my hand.

Splat.

“Ah, seriously!”

This time I stepped in spit.

No, got spit on my hand.

“Pffft…”

“Khuhuk.”

People passing by burst into laughter at my appearance.

You little shits.

Fwish.

I nearly charmed you all right there.

Suppressing my charm while unbridled was enormously taxing.

After enduring dozens of such indignities while dashing through the streets,

At last,

I was able to pinpoint the source of the scent.

…Namsan Mountain.

It seemed to be coming from Namsan.

Unlike Jiri Mountain where the only people were Yokai Extermination Office staff,

Namsan was a tourist attraction teeming with tens of thousands of visitors daily.

If a yokai were to run rampant on Namsan…

…That would be an utter calamity.

I increased my pace, swiftly running towards Namsan.

Ah,

Of course I obeyed traffic signals.

I was not some anarchist lacking moral principles like Ho Joon.

No matter how urgent the situation, I had to obey the rules, yes.

What if I caused an accident by jaywalking across a red light?

“Nnnggh…”

Honestly, these traffic lights were truly infuriating.

As I waited for the signal, I began feeling concerned about the conference.

The director and Lee Ha-neul would likely be furious with me.

…What if they disowned me?

While I did not know for certain,

I felt it might devastate me to the point of crumbling completely.

---

Contrary to Miho’s worries,

The director did not blame her at all.

Far from blaming, he even felt gratitude towards Miho.

For Miho’s message of ‘It seems a yokai has appeared in Seoul’ was an incident of paramount gravity.

He likely judged exterminating the yokai took priority over concealing her identity and maintaining a low profile.

It showed the director’s trust in Miho.

They had to respond swiftly, fortunately

With Martial Artists from across the nation gathered in Seoul for the conference.

Even if a mere yokai appeared, they could deal with it without major casualties.

…Of course,

The timing could not be called ideal either.

If only Miho had appeared after attending the conference first, for instance.

Her humanity had yet to be proven to others, so whether they would believe Miho’s message remained uncertain.

The director, Lee Han-ul, hurriedly returned to the conference hall to report the situation.

Upon which Lee Ha-neul slammed the table and exclaimed:

“We must immediately go aid Miho!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

A brief silence, then

“Wahahahaha!”

“Director Han-ul, Ms. Ha-neul, you both have quite the talent for comedy!”

“The tense atmosphere was getting uncomfortable, so thank you for breaking it up! Huahahahaha!”

“Ha-neul, you’ll break the table at this rate.”

They even prostrated themselves in apology.

At a glance, it might seem the thoughtless arrogance of elders, but

Put yourself in their position –

How could they possibly believe the words of some random fox claiming to be a ‘spiritual beast’?

Especially when that fox’s message was the ludicrous ‘A yokai has appeared in Seoul’.

Furthermore, the yogi detection radar was not functioning either.

True, the ‘Formless Shadow’ in Jangsan also evaded detection, but

Seoul’s yogi radar boasted performance on an entirely different level from rural areas.

“N, no, it’s not a lie! Miho is not the kind to lie…!”

Lee Ha-neul was flustered while

The director wore a somber expression, as if anticipating this very situation.

Ho Joon remained impassively observant in his usual crabby posture, while

Baek Nam-hun, the conference chair and overall authority, looked conflicted.

Baek Nam-hun pondered:

Should he have Lee Han-ul and the others arrested here?

Or did he need to immediately track the yokai, as his disciple Lee Ha-neul claimed?

His dilemma was not about believing this ‘Miho’ spiritual beast, but rather

Whether he could trust ‘Lee Han-ul’ and ‘Lee Ha-neul’.

If he could witness this spiritual beast named ‘Miho’ directly, Baek Nam-hun was fully willing to support her –

For if the characteristics he knew of spiritual beasts were not mistaken, that would be the path benefitting humanity.

The words of a spiritual beast could be believed.

However, he could not simply believe Lee Han-ul’s words…

Not until they had been proven truthful or false.

Though his disciple Lee Ha-neul actively vouched for the Jiri Mountain Office director,

That alone was insufficient.

No matter if it was his disciple speaking, this concerned the nation’s fate.

Professional and personal matters had to be clearly separated.

Amidst the chaotic conference hall,

There was one individual who quietly raised his hand:

Ho Joon.

“Everyone, silence. Sir Ho Joon, you may speak.”

“Yes, well. It’s nothing much.”

Ho Joon casually continued while picking his nose:

“I, and the entire Taoist Society, vouch for the existence of the spiritual beast Miho.”

Silence.

After which,

Baek Nam-hun addressed Ho Joon:

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“Yes.”

With Ho Joon’s affirmation,

Baek Nam-hun smiled.

Ho Joon,

No,

The Taoist Society vouching for this spiritual beast named ‘Miho’ meant, in other words,

That Lee Han-ul’s statements were all truthful.

A yokai had indeed

Appeared in Seoul.

“Deputy.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Prepare to issue an evacuation order. And for all the Martial Artists and Spell Masters gathered here,”

Swish.

Surveying those present, Baek Nam-hun continued:

“I ask that you track down the yokai that has appeared in Seoul. The conference will resume after its extermination.”

“B, but that’s preposterous! Issuing an evacuation order based on unverified claims…”

“True! Even if those claims are factual, how can we locate the yokai when the yogi radar is not functioning?”

To their questions, Baek Nam-hun let out a dry chuckle and said:

“Then you will have to search on foot.”

“…”

“For your reference, there was no such thing as a yogi radar when I was in my prime.”