episode_0100

[A new story]

[How did you do it? Magic? Alchemy? Curse? The pig’s blood was surely thoroughly cleaned, right?]

“It’s not magic, alchemy, or a curse. It’s science.”

[Science?]

“…Yes. It’s called the Luminol reaction.”

[Lu… What?]

Do you know CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, sir? It was a series I used to go crazy for every Sunday night in my hometown…

You probably don’t know…

“The components in blood have high viscosity, so even if you wash them off, they can’t be easily removed. Even if they become invisible to the naked eye, they will inevitably remain.”

“If you sprinkle water, does it have the ability to find where the blood has stained?”

“Exactly, it’s a liquid that reacts with metals, not blood. It’s called Luminol solution. Since blood from humans or animals contains iron, it reacts with that iron to oxidize and produce a blue light. So, this is just a phenomenon; it’s not any special ability.”

[……]

I apologize for not being able to explain it more simply, as I was just a CSI enthusiast and lack specialized knowledge.

Still, if I could just make you understand that this is merely part of the natural order, that would be sufficient.

[You possess truly remarkable knowledge.]

“It’s knowledge from my hometown. I think I should talk about this part after all the trials are over.”

[Well, first, congratulations are in order. You passed the first trial splendidly. Personally, it was much fresher and more interesting than the original story. Let’s finish the trials like this and return. My subordinates are suffering in the moonlit night…]

“……”

[Is there something that doesn’t sit well with you?]

“…Yes.”

I felt that I shouldn’t end the first trial like this.

More precisely… I didn’t want to end it like this.

There were no issues with the stories I had progressed through, and I successfully completed the trial.

My intuition wasn’t warning me of anything, but…

[Even if you end the first trial like this, no one will object. Your subordinates won’t rebel either. In fact, it seems like the story that Jim twisted is flowing smoothly as intended…]

“……”

[Something seems to bother you. Perhaps because Jim’s daughter helped you?]

Did Heeseon know that she helped me?

No, perhaps Heeseon’s guess was correct.

Since His Majesty already knew the story, if it was logical that Heeseon helped me, it would have been easy for him to guess.

[Then there’s nothing to worry about. Weren’t you unaware of the advice in the first place? You probably heard about the content of the trial. If you did, when you saw the chick, Jim would have pointed to it. Couldn’t Jim have understood that much?]

“…Yes. I only heard that the test was about hide-and-seek.”

In the original story, His Majesty transformed into a chick.

Heeseon probably wanted to tell me about His Majesty’s appearance as a chick.

Only then did the figures entangling His Majesty start to become clear.

In reality, I had been feeling the pressure since the beginning when Sinseon read the scripture.

Back then, I thought it was just pressure from a higher being, but it wasn’t.

His Majesty… he twisted the story for this trial. That was the burden.

It made sense why he appeared as a chick.

If it wasn’t a chick but a chick-to-be, then eventually it would become a chick, reducing the burden of carrying the story.

“Then, what is the problem? This was a trial that you couldn’t overcome from the start. The laws of heaven are strict but also fair. My daughter’s help was therefore part of fate. It was about maintaining balance.”

“Furthermore, you haven’t violated the conditions of the contract. There was no rule saying you shouldn’t know the answers to the conditions of the trial in advance. Perhaps what you asked Heeseon to do was to make the burden crush pig blood? That too happened before the trial began, and after it started, didn’t you find the burden on your own strength? Just as no one questioned the liquid you brought prepared, spreading pig blood beforehand can also be seen as preparation.”

“Already the burden seems satisfactory to you. Perhaps even your subordinates have realized that you are not a dangerous person. But why do you still wear a face dripping with lingering regrets and not end the trial?”

“In fact, I don’t know well either. Why? Why? Even if I end the trial like this, there is no danger for me, nor will Heeseon or Sari be endangered?”

“Even with the Lord’s question, I bow my head for a moment, close my eyes, and silently organize my thoughts.”

“Some time passes…! Ah! So that’s why…!”

Having gained enlightenment, I lift my head, look at the Emperor with patience, and calmly explain my thoughts.

“In the end… the trial ended as originally intended. Even if I didn’t listen to the fairy’s advice, even if I found you in an unfamiliar way, the main storyline remains the same.”

“But that was a story twisted by the burden. It made it return to the original story. Who can easily change logic to fate! What exactly becomes the problem?”

“It’s definitely a problem. Even if the method is innovative and deviates from the original story, it’s just a positive form of distortion. I cannot show your subordinates that I can create a new order because of it.”

“Why do I receive trials if not to prove that my abilities are different from fate? Even if I pass the trial according to the conditions, what have I shown now? Instead of proof, I struggled within the story. If I am satisfied with just passing and end the trial at this point, it’s a failure.”

The Emperor spits out his words in a displeased tone.

“As expected… You, the artisan, hope that I will end the test like this.”

“Moreover, if I end the test like this, how will you deal with the consequences… How will you handle that great consequence that surrounds you?”

“How could that be…! Could it be that the burden is visible?!”

“Yes! It is very clear. That’s why I can never end this trial. If the story ends like this, I would have finished the story according to fate, so there would be no problem. However, isn’t there still the sin that you twisted the story left with you?”

“You! I am the Emperor of Okhwang. I can endure this level of consequence! How dare a mere lower-level servant worry about the Emperor! Know your place!”

“No! Do you know how much Heeseon worries about you, misses you? Yet if you bear the burden because of me, have you ever thought about how much pain our Heeseon will feel? I don’t want to do anything that even slightly hurts her heart. Have you really not considered the sadness in Heeseon’s heart at all?”

[That…!]

I see. If the master is wronged because of me, Hwiseon will not be happy. That was more important than proving my ability.

Because my mission is their happiness.

If I end the trial like this, I will receive a punishment from the King. It’s a story where neither the King nor Hwiseon will be happy.

Just as in the folk tale where the protagonist judged the stepmother who imposed an impossible trial as evil and punished her severely.

Even if it’s not the King, but rather the King himself, I judged the master who imposed a difficult trial on me to the point of turning order into chaos as evil.

So… I can’t end the story like this. I didn’t want to end it.

Just as I saved Hwiseon with a story that day, this time I have to save the master.

“That’s why I dare to ask Your Majesty. The game of hide-and-seek is not over yet. Since the seeker has found the hidden person, now the found person must become the seeker. That’s the order of things.”

[…..!]

“The game will start half an hour later and last until sunrise. I propose only one rule! I will use all my abilities to avoid Your Majesty and hide somehow. Please do your best to find me. I will follow the rest of the rules according to the fair laws of the sky.”

[This fool…! Why would he make such a choice! Even if you rebel, do you think you can hide from the King? If you fail, the burden of your sins will increase to the point where you cannot bear it! Why make such a choice…!]

“I can bear it. From now on, the story I create will be completely different from the original story. So… Your Majesty never turned back on the story from the beginning. You just created nutrients for a new story. I will use Your Majesty’s burden as soil to give birth to a new story.”

[Why…! Like this…! Already burdened by sins…!]

Sarur….

It is clear that all of the King’s sins are disappearing.

-Kill, kill, kill, kill.

The sinister laughter ringing in my ears.

And slowly, the huge burden that begins to oppress me.

If I fail to give birth to a new story like this, I will probably be swept away by the burden like that deer.

It doesn’t matter, I will never fail.

“Your Majesty, I will prepare to hide for half an hour from now. Even if it’s hard for you, please leave the village for a while and come back into the village after half an hour.”

[Do you really believe in yourself?]

“Yes. Your Majesty’s daughter, Your Majesty’s grandson, I swore in front of Your Majesty that I will take full responsibility.”

[That oath must be kept.]

“Of course. That is my purpose in life.”

The King’s jade pupils scan me.

He is a great being called the King, but he is Hwiseon’s father, the master.

Gil-yong advised me. When trembling before the master, even if you tremble, you must be confident in everything. Try changing your perspective.

-Sanga, would you want to entrust your daughter to someone who is timid and crumbles like you? Don’t crumble even if you are mistreated and oppressed! Stand tall with confidence! Understand what I’m saying?

Although it is a more serious situation than mistreatment or oppression, it is somewhat similar.

I look at the master with my shoulders squared and a confident expression.

After sending a worried glance for a moment, the King turns around and leaves the village.

Don’t worry, Master, it wasn’t something I did without thinking.

Whether by chance or fate… I seem to already have the key to pass this trial.

“When will you stop hiding?”

“…Yanya?”

“Oh! Sariya, were you sleeping? Haha, I didn’t call you. So don’t worry and go back to sleep.”

Pat, pat…

I thought the coffin was calling me when I spoke out of the blue, but it wasn’t calling me.

I pat the pocket of my jacket where the coffin is and speak into the air again.

“You already know that one of the clothes I wore has turned into it, so just come out quickly, okay? Widow.”