Chapter 3: . woman, salida (1)

The nation that serves dragons, Cheongsin.

It boasted a long history, one of the most magically advanced nations on the continent, and… at the same time, it was a small, weak nation sandwiched between two great powers.

Therefore, the King and ministers of Cheongsin knew.

They were nothing more than a tiny buffer, existing only because the two neighboring nations did not wish to clash directly.

Thud.

Thus, they had to nervously watch the man who unpleasantly tossed a wooden tablet onto the table before them, swallowing their saliva as if dead.

““…Now that I think about it, your nation has something truly interesting.””

At the voice of the man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, sitting in the highest seat—the place of honor—and looking down even upon the King, who was originally the master of the palace.

““A Shamaness of Misfortune, was it?””

The King and ministers of Cheongsin trembled slightly, as if flustered by the unexpected word.

““I, the Emperor, sometimes wonder. How great must this dragon, whom you so revere, be… for you to hold me in such contempt?””

““Your Majesty…! That is…!””

““Who said you could speak?””

““…Gasp!””

They were not so foolish as to miss the clear anger in his voice.

““I willingly overlooked the inadequacy of the tribute received over the past few years. As it is said that all within the four seas are brothers, how could I be called Emperor if I failed to understand my brothers’ hardships?””

“…….”

““However… from what I hear, the tribute you present to Jureon (朱璉) seems quite different from what you offer us.””

The man before them—the Emperor of Ran (瀾), one of the two great powers sandwiching Cheongsin—spoke.

““Indeed. Like you, Jureon also reveres someone called a god, so you must have felt a sense of camaraderie. Oh, absolutely.””

‘Are you daring to make me come all this way just for some petty sense of camaraderie?’

““It seems you find it difficult to speak directly… so I shall voice what I have personally surmised to be your thoughts.””

At the Emperor’s chillingly calm command, the King and ministers of Cheongsin remained kneeling, bowing their heads.

““―Why should we bow our heads to uncivilized people who know not how to worship a god?””

They had to shake their heads desperately, their foreheads pressed to the ground from bowing so low.

For that was the only way they could express themselves at that moment.

““When I discussed your intentions with my court ministers, they all said: ‘Those who do not know their place should be swept away immediately.’ So they said.””

The Emperor leaned back in his throne, crossed his legs, and rested his hands on his knees as he spoke.

““However, it seems I am not so cold-hearted as to abandon a long-standing brother for such a trivial reason.””

‘He hoped that by his mere presence here, his intentions would be understood.’

““Understand this well. The next one to visit here will not be me.””

It was no one else but the Emperor of a great nation who had personally made the journey. This implied that they should engrave the grave significance of his presence into their very beings.

““Now then… since I have personally made the journey, I can surely expect a level of sincerity befitting my efforts, can I not?””

As the Emperor, who smiled mischievously like a child, opened his mouth again, indicating that they were now free to express their opinions.

““―Your Imperial grace is boundless!””

Those who had been bowing their heads now uniformly bowed again, expressing their gratitude.

““Oh, it’s nothing so boundless.””

At the Emperor’s light gesture, the King and ministers of Cheongsin sat down again. Though they showed no outward sign, they all inwardly heaved sighs of relief, thinking only of how to offer the most sincere hospitality to ensure the Emperor’s continued good humor, but then.

““I desire the Shamaness you cherish so dearly.””

““Your Majesty…?””

The Emperor’s sudden demand was so abrupt that the King of Cheongsin inadvertently let out a stunned sound.

““The Shamaness of Misfortune.””

““Your Majesty… Forgive my presumption, but that is….””

““Why? Is it not possible?””

““The Shamaness of Misfortune is inherently an existence that protects this small nation, Cheongsin, from calamities. If that position becomes vacant….””

At the King’s words, explaining that indeed, when the previous Shamaness completed her role and the period for selecting the next Shamaness began, the nation would be plunged into chaos with all sorts of misfortunes.

““That is precisely why. Is this not the very time for that Shamaness to fulfill her role?””

““…This humble subject, lacking in learning, failed to comprehend Your Imperial Majesty’s profound intentions, as vast as the ocean.””

““Haha! Indeed. If you lack learning, I shall personally instruct you.””

With a light laugh, the Emperor spoke, a corner of his mouth curving wryly.

““Having warded off the calamity that is me, has she not sufficiently completed her part?””

Was his intent finally understood then? As the sighs of relief they had inwardly exhaled moments ago faded, a sense of their blood running cold filled the air.

““Do not take it too heavily. Your reactions make it seem as though I am being unreasonable.””

After saying that, the Emperor quietly rose from his seat.

““I shall not insist on an answer. As it has always been, the choice is yours.””

Without even a chance for the bowing King and ministers of Cheongsin to reply, he simply exited the room with his quietly trailing attendants.

****

Some time later.

““Me? Really?””

Seoryeong, Cheongsin’s sole Shamaness of Misfortune, suddenly received news like a bolt from the blue.

““Ran? But no, they don’t even worship a separate god there, do they?””

The news was that she had been chosen as one of the tributes Cheongsin was to offer to Ran soon.

““So, I… am to become Ran’s Shamaness of Misfortune from now on?””

Listening to the news delivered through the Shrine, the institution to which all of Cheongsin’s shamanesses belonged, and which simultaneously managed all of Cheongsin’s magical domains.

““…Are you kidding me right now?””

Seoryeong replied, her vertically slit golden eyes contorted.

““Hey, tell me. Old man. It was you, wasn’t it? You’re the one who dragged me here, turned me into this, and stuck me in this place, aren’t you?””

“…….”

““You said there was no one to become the Shamaness, that all the girls you selected weren’t virgins. That damned dragon bastard didn’t like them, so you brought me here and even turned me into this just to make me the Shamaness, didn’t you?””

‘If she did not become the Shamaness, calamities would flood the nation. The accumulated misfortunes would swallow not only Seoryeong’s family but also the village where she lived.’ The High Priest and ministers of the Shrine had said so.

That was the catalyst for Seoryeong to decide to become the Shamaness, even abandoning her original gender.

““You guys, who were so desperate you took a man and turned him into a woman, what? Now you’re going to offer me as tribute to a great nation?””

Therefore, for the first time since entering the Shrine, Seoryeong began to snarl, grabbing the High Priest by the collar—a being she would never have dared to look at before.

““If you have eyes, look. Look at the state of these hands. Are these even human hands?””

““…First, let go of this.””

““If this is how it’s going to be, then just send me back to my original form. Send me back to my family!””

Her hands and feet were covered in blue scales, her eyes were clearly not human, and what about the yellow horns growing from her head and the blue tail sprouting from her backside? Her appearance was truly beyond grotesque.

““If you arbitrarily seized me and made me like this, shouldn’t you take responsibility until the very end?!””

Five years had passed since she drank an unknown potion. All she desired was for her family and village to be peaceful, yet she had become a being beyond human form, bearing the unwanted role of a Shamaness.

““Impossible.””

At the old man’s chilling voice, Seoryeong’s two blue-scaled hands twitched, and she had to step back.

““Have I not taught you? Your body is yours, yet it is not yours.””

““Ah, ugh….””

““You are not merely being sold.””

““Stop, stop…!””

““This is to ward off the great calamity targeting our nation, Cheongsin. Therefore, this too is the role of a Shamaness of Misfortune.””

Seoryeong covered her ears with both hands, as if to block out the voice.

““Or do you still require education?””

At the sight of the old man, who quietly raised one hand and drew a hand seal, implying if five years hadn’t been enough, Seoryeong forced her trembling body to calm down and quietly bowed her head.

““No, it’s not… not.””

““Who are you?””

““I am… the Shamaness of Misfortune. A body dedicated to the Dragon….””

““Good. That’s right. Then, what is it that you must do now?””

Thus, at the old man’s final question, asked while staring at her.

““…I must become Ran’s Shamaness of Misfortune.””

Seoryeong spoke with a sense of resignation, feeling as though she faced an insurmountable, colossal entity.