Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: Liquor Party
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“Wow! A real goblin!?”
“Yeah, the famous Thousand Gold Chief—that’s me!”
“Thousand Gold... Chief? Wow, for real... uh, that’s amazing!”
Jang Hyun-deok, glancing at me nervously.
“You don’t even know Thousand Gold Hall?”
“No, I know Thousand Gold Hall. You think I’m an idiot or—waaah!? For real?! You’re from Thousand Gold Hall!?”
Sure, Thousand Gold Hall is renowned as an incredible place, but few people know the details.
“Bwahaha—guardian of Thousand Gold Hall, that’s me!”
“Woooow! Make me rich! Make me rich! Make me rich!”
Jang Hyun-deok suddenly bowing his head toward Seo Cheon-seul, praying.
“Pray all you want... no, wait. If it makes you happy, whatever....”
“Legend! Legend! Legend!”
Heo Sang-hyeon flailing about with his eyes wide open.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“What do I prepare for snacks with booze? Like, goblins eat—”
Ah, right. Sorry about that.
I’d turned into the head of the house inviting guests over at midnight without a thought for the poor guy handling chores.
“They eat millet cakes or any kind of pork like in the fairy tales. Just don’t put red beans or peaches on it.”
“What about peppers or garlic...?”
“Nah, that’s just etiquette for ancestral rites. A big-shot goblin like the Thousand Gold Chief won’t complain about a few red dishes on the table.”
At Seo Cheon-seul’s level, he could eat peach-and-red-bean shaved ice without batting an eye anyway.
“Got it.”
Heo Sang-hyeon dashes to the kitchen to prep snacks. Hmm... I do feel kinda bad.
“Bwahaha!”
Explosive laughter echoes from the living room.
“Squeee!”
Scritch-scritch—
Grumble-grumble—
Red, Achilles, and even Rolly.
“Yeah, yeah! You’re all cute! Bwahaha!”
Seo Cheon-seul captivates the mansion’s young animal(?) friends with the charm only a non-human can exude.
* * *
“Do you know, Kim my man? Monghyang—one shot—”
The “Kim my man” Seo Cheon-seul’s calling right now isn’t me—it’s Jang Hyun-deok.
“Yeeees—? One shot—?”
Jang Hyun-deok slurring his words.
“Adds a year to your lifespan.”
“Hic—huh—?! For reals?”
“Yeah—this ain’t your average booze. Come on, drink up—more, drink more—”
“Waaah—how old am I now then?”
“How much you’ve drunk so far? Kim my man’s had about a hundred shots already, so maybe six hundred years added?”
“Woooow! Joseon dynasty history!”
No clue why Jang Hyun-deok suddenly yelled about Joseon history, but I couldn’t help chiming in.
“You haven’t even had ten shots yet. And chugging won’t stack it that high.”
It does extend life a bit for real, but the effect diminishes with each drink.
“But—this stuff’s super rare—right? Tastes amaaazing—”
“Yep. Only folks approved by the master of Thousand Gold Hall get even a little as a gift.”
“But—why hasn’t the wizard dude drunk any? Why’re you fine? Modern guy!”
“What modern? I’ve been drinking this whole time.”
I said that as I downed the Monghyang in my cup.
Forget the health benefits or lifespan boost—Monghyang is just insanely delicious booze.
The rich aroma spreading through your whole body, the unique sting that makes your soul curl up, the intricate tickle seeping into your mana core, the intense euphoria and joy that shakes your brain, the lingering pleasure, and a faint bittersweet aftertaste.
[Monghyang consumed. Random effect triggered.]
[Rationality stat recovery selected.]
[Rolling Luck to determine recovery amount... Luck roll... 8! Rationality stat recovers 8 points.]
[Health check failed. Alcohol side effects occur.]
[Trait ‘Abyssal Madness’ nullifies alcohol side effects.]
Crackle—
A light buzz lingers, but anything that’d mess with my actions or judgment gets wiped out by [Abyssal Madness].
‘Means I can keep drinking without getting wasted.’
Not sure what lifespan means for this body I’ll ditch in a few years anyway, but I’ve already gained ten years’ worth.
“Brought more boiled pork.”
“Whoa! Boiled pork!”
“Sit down and eat already, Sang-hyeon.”
I grabbed Heo Sang-hyeon before he could bolt back to the kitchen.
“Uh... is that okay?”
“I’ll handle cleanup, don’t worry.”
The death spirit golems will actually do it, but point is, Heo Sang-hyeon doesn’t need to keep slaving away.
“Hmm...”
I narrowed my eyes, taking in the rowdy drinking party.
Jang Hyun-deok, Seo Cheon-seul, Heo Sang-hyeon, and me. If we’re counting, Red, Achilles, and Rolly too—but chatter-chatter—babble-babble—
Not many officially invited, but the number of folks drinking, singing, dancing, and yapping here is way more.
‘No, “folks” ain’t the right word.’
Ever hear those ghost stories about how the headcount mysteriously grows while drinking?
Like, weren’t we four? Why five pairs of chopsticks? That kinda lame tale.
It’s happening here right now.
Except it’s not just one or two extras.
- Eh, probably died the most gruesome here, I bet?
- Haha, I got hit by Heo Joo’s weird experiment for a hundred days...
- Can I sit here?
- Yeah, sit, sit.
The house ghosts are slyly taking seats, spilling their sob stories like urban legends.
‘Because of Seo Cheon-seul—or Monghyang?’
Ghosts who’d forgotten how they even died.
Ones who could only curse everything and hate the living—they’re regaining their sense of self.
‘Once the party’s over, they’ll follow him to the afterlife in droves.’
House hazards dropping big time.
- Let us join too...
- Show me the way to Thousand Gold Hall...
- The golden light brighter than dreams, for us too...
Ghosts, evil spirits, wandering souls, petty spirits, ancestral shades, floating wraiths—swarming from everywhere.
Even the ones haunting Jangsung Mountain’s woods since forever.
Grotesque faces pressed to every mansion window: faces, faces, faces, faces, faces, eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes, palms, palms, palms, palms.
“Bwahaha! So pitiful, so pitiful! Wandering spirits lost in the mortal world, I won’t forget—I’ll guide you to Thousand Gold Hall, so revel now! Chatter! Dance! Sing!”
The Thousand Gold Chief dances outside, splashing booze—and starts singing.
Rumble-rumble—whoosh—whoosh—
Even more spirits swarm. Just these could form a massive undead legion.
“Thousand Gold Chief, don’t waste Monghyang like that.”
“Bahaha—so many, what’s it matter?”
Fair, one jar’s more than enough when he brought a whole vat.
Anyway, thanks to Seo Cheon-seul’s generosity, an absurd scene unfolds around the mansion soon enough.
Chatter-chatter—murmur-murmur—
Every kinda spirit swarms in, plopping down wherever outside, throwing their own drunken bash.
No need to share food or booze—they’re divvying up stolen ancestral offerings and mystery snacks.
For the record, their snacks... best not describe, or you’d lose your appetite.
“Kim my man, wanna take a stroll?”
Seo Cheon-seul pulls a long pipe from his robes.
“I don’t smoke.”
“Sheesh—talk about clueless, Kim my man.”
“That’s why I’m saying it. Ugh—”
No choice—I follow Seo Cheon-seul outside.
* * *
- Wahahaha!
- Kekekeke!
Laughter booming from afar. Pure, innocent glee without a hint of malice.
Sound you probably haven’t heard across all Jangsung Mountain in decades.
“Feels like a village festival now.”
Seo Cheon-seul stands beside me, gazing at the mansion as he replies.
“Bahaha, as lord of this spirit ground—gotta treat the kin now and then.”
“They ain’t my kin.”
Seo Cheon-seul says nothing, just clamps the meter-long pipe between his teeth.
“Fwoo—”
No lighter, but golden sparks mix with smoke billowing from his mouth.
He exhales lazily with a dreamy look, then finally speaks.
“They don’t see it that way.”
“Hmm.”
Fair point. Monghyang restored the ghosts’ lost awareness and personality.
Some’ll pass on, some’ll trail Seo Cheon-seul, but some’ll stick around...
I could use them for higher-level necromancy or complex requests I couldn’t before.
‘If I play it right, they could readjust my broken parts stronger while I’m out cold.’
And Jangsung Mountain’ll become an even greater mana den. Haha—
“Said the Great King.”
“Hm?”
“About the stuff you picked up this time.”
Yeah, no way he’d just gift this precious booze for free. Guess Seo Cheon-seul came to relay the King of Eternal Gold’s message.
“Too much for Kim my man, he says. If you want, the King’ll hold onto it for you.”
Seo Cheon-seul clears his throat—cough—and inhales smoke before adding,
“Only if you want, that is.”
Of my haul, only one item’s big enough for the King of Eternal Gold to bother with.
‘The Line Rock, probably.’
Just a legend in Paju back home, but here it’s a spirit object infused with [The Patiently Waiting One]’s influence.
“Nah, I can handle it.”
“Fwoo—”
Seo Cheon-seul blows smoke toward the mansion, not me.
“The Great King figured you’d get cocky.”
“Thought this before, but the King meddles too much sometimes.”
“Bwahaha—even I think so occasionally.”
Seo Cheon-seul still faces the mansion, showing me only his left profile.
“How you holding up, Kim my man?”
“What about?”
“Last time, had to respect you in every way. Impressive, cunning, slick moves.”
Seo Cheon-seul exhales again.
Mystical smoke sparking gold swirls around him like layered cumulonimbus clouds.
And along those paths, Seo Cheon-seul—no, the Thousand Gold Chief’s influence expands.
“But we haven’t truly crossed paths yet. Whaddya say? Wanna see if you’ve got the chops to defy the master of Thousand Gold Hall?”
“Thousand Gold Chief, I’m tired.”
“Ah, not a real fight, course not. Seen plenty of your booze magic already. But suppose—say I unleash Ghostly Wail for real and conjure Samadhi True Fire—what then?”
Seo Cheon-seul grins at me.
Then swings the pipe—
“Shape about this big, three blasts you can’t dodge easy: here, here, and this way.”
He brings the pipe end to his lips, inhaling smoke again.
What is this, swordsmen bantering techniques? Ridiculous—
“Fwoo—”
Roooar—
Not banter.
Smoke this time? No—golden flames roaring out. I’ve got [Fire Resistance], but the heat pierces it, dizzying.
“Samadhi True Fire’s the pinnacle of goblin sorcery. Douse it with water? Follows the mutual generation cycle: water begets wood—wood begets fire—burns hotter. How ’bout it, Kim my man?”
“Just showing off now, right?”
“I’ll weave it this way, that way—and the last one hidden behind the first flames, like this, sly attack. Think you can block or dodge?”
Seo Cheon-seul’s Samadhi True Fire starts drifting slowly toward me. Not fast, but the mana packed in is lethally past “joke” territory.
“Ugh—dunno what you’re after, but—”
Feels like I’m being toyed with. I point at parts of the approaching True Fire.
“Here, here, and here.”
“Hm?”
“Weak spots. No water or barriers needed—touch those, and the ritual collapses.”
“Bwahaha—won’t be that easy.”
“Think so?”
I stab mana hooks into Seo Cheon-seul’s Samadhi True Fire and shove power in.
[Spell Overload]
Shriiir—
It unravels and fizzles instantly.
“See?”
“Whoa—thought you’d drain or steal the energy.”
“Yeah. Folks don’t expect you’d add to their own completed ritual.”
Same trick I pulled on Yong-su in In-su Village way back.
“But Kim my man, what’d you shove in?”
“Tiger, monkey, snake, pig.”
“Ah, the In-Sin-Sa-Hae. Earth energy, huh.”
“Yep.”
“Fire follows generation to earth, overgrown earth wakes metal—metal conquers wood, suppressing it, so fire naturally weakens.”
Visibly shocked, Seo Cheon-seul mutters seriously, retracing my move.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Then how ’bout this? Fwoooo—”
Fresh smoke from Seo Cheon-seul restores the fading flames—roooar—
A monstrous heat blasts out, flames swelling endlessly into a storm.
“Hey, Thousand Gold Chief. You drunk? This ain’t funny anymore.”
“Bwahaha—this one’s hotter than before, Kim my man.”