Chapter 97
Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Ghost Road (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The streetscape kept shifting around us.
Each time it did, the lantern in the professor's hand swayed slightly.
The direction the lantern pointed changed.
Just moments ago, there had been a straight road ahead, but now it bent with the light, or a crossroads appeared where none had been.
And each time the direction shifted, we delved deeper into the otherworld.
We followed only the light.
The real Geumchon Market was almost gone now.
The ground had long since turned from paved streets to damp dirt paths, and instead of buildings, silver trees with purple leaves came into view.
Occasionally, streetlamps and signs stood in odd places—proof that we hadn't fully left reality behind.
That's when the professor suddenly mentioned that those with special talents could enter this road or glimpse its inhabitants without aids like the ghost lantern.
"People called those with spiritual sense... right?"
"Exactly. Do you know how those with such traits differ from magic users?"
It had nothing to do with magic. Of course, skilled mages could replicate similar effects, but not exactly the same.
They needed [Spiritual Sense] or [Divine Possession] traits. Jang Hyun-deok's [Living Altar] trait was from the same lineage.
But how to explain it?
"It's hard to put into words. Mages can see ghosts through mana, and necromancy spells let them do even more. But to access the Ghost Road or use Eastern shamanistic rites, you need a different talent."
"I've seen many people wield special powers over the years. They exploded in numbers twenty years ago, but do you know there were always people with such abilities, even before then? They just stayed hidden."
"Witches existed twenty years ago, and psychics too. Heck, there are magic tomes from a hundred or even a thousand years back."
"Right. But... magic has something odd about it."
"Pardon? Odd how?"
"More precisely, mages—especially folks like you in the mage corps. The power mages use feels somehow different from everyone else's."
"Different in what way?"
"It's like they have a different worldview. Unlike other powers with consistent lineages or traditions, magic seems artificially constructed. Magic studies claim their own lineages and traditions, but... what do you think? Who taught you magic? Can you tell me what they said it was?"
"......"
I hadn't really been taught magic. No one had instructed me.
"If it's not too rude, when I look at magic's components and structure, it feels less like traditional rituals or spells and more like settings from a modern game or novel."
What was this about? Well, it was a game's setting, after all.
I could agree about the differing worldviews.
The original [Cthulhu Mythos] that inspired this game didn't feature fireballs or magic missiles.
Some magic tied to the [Cthulhu Mythos] existed, but most of what I could use fit better in a typical epic fantasy game.
I'd chalked it up to game mechanics before... but why was an NPC like the professor raising these questions?
Did he know more than what the game provided?
"I can't share details about who taught me, but I've had similar thoughts. Is there more you can tell me about this?"
When I agreed with him, the professor's voice brightened.
"Is that so? I thought as much. I've wanted to research this further, but mages aren't cooperative. If you're interested, come to our university after this. We could study together."
...Was this a grad school invite?
The professor kept chatting animatedly about magic afterward, but little was immediately useful to me. Plus, his questions started piling up, almost overwhelming.
"Ah, hold on. Looks like we're almost at Cheongeomdang."
"Oh dear, time to be careful now."
The professor shut his mouth, visibly disappointed. Would the interrogation resume on the way back?
I turned forward and saw Cheongeomdang coming into view.
From here on, real caution was needed.
A grand hanok building sprawled atop a low hill blooming with flowers out of season amid trees with purple leaves.
The phrase "tiles like a whale's back" must have been coined for places like this.
Cheongeomdang wasn't one building.
A wall stretched wide enough to encircle the hill.
Dozens of structures tied within that wall.
Pavilions piercing the sky, and demon masks carved ornately everywhere visible.
That was all Cheongeomdang.
Shield banners woven on thick ropes floated in its skies here and there. Hundreds of will-o'-the-wisps patrolled like fish swimming the deep sea.
The professor whispered in awe at the sight.
"Quite the spectacle, isn't it? I don't come often, but it amazes me every time. A scene that makes you forget reality."
"Yes. It is."
It had a beauty to it.
This was a corner of the underworld, and a goblin den too.
Mortals with flesh had to stay silent, but the area around Cheongeomdang buzzed noisily.
A procession of shades heading for the main gate caused it.
The bizarre beings we'd seen along the way formed a true hundred ghosts parade at night.
They'd forgotten even to mimic humans, each producing eerie music and raucous noise.
We walked with the procession, but trouble hit at some point.
The shades stopped short of advancing.
The professor, who'd been smiling and sightseeing, sensed something off and spoke puzzled.
"This never happened before... What's going on?"
I extended my mana silently ahead at his words.
"Professor, Cheongeomdang's gate is closing."
"What?"
"Look over there."
"Good heavens..."
Traditional wards like giant totems, ridgepole finials, and stone pagodas lined the entrance.
At the center of the tall wall loomed an imposing main gate.
It was shutting.
- Halt! Stay back!
- Halt! Stay back!
Harsh shouts echoed from somewhere.
No one visible closed it, yet it inched shut.
Leading shades jammed themselves through before it closed fully, so it hadn't sealed yet—but not for long.
What was happening?
'A few spells, then dash in...'
Alone, I could make it.
But I had a companion who limited my movements.
I couldn't safely shove the professor through.
Plus, the cursed items in my hands and on my back meant rash action was unwise.
- Hey! Let me in too!
- Outta the way! I'm going in!
Shades clamored to squeeze through the narrowing gap.
- Halt! Stay back!
- Halt! Stay back!
- Arrrghhh!
Boom.
The gate finally shut.
The last scream came from some shade or yokai caught in it, bisected clean.
A big-mouthed yokai near the gate swallowed the severed lower half.
The heavy paulownia gate bore a bold demon mask relief.
Not mere decoration—the mask formed a powerful spell ward, a barrier against intruders and the uninvited.
"Professor, even I couldn't break through that."
"Hmm... Let's watch and see what's happening first."
- Open the gate!
- Let me in! Get this curse off me quick!
- Why close it suddenly?
- What's the problem? Send out Cheongeom's chief!
Shades and yokai mobbed the gate, howling.
I'd seen something similar at the Blue Tiger House. Exactly like that.
Crowds surged, demanding entry.
But Cheongeomdang's gate stayed shut, the ghost parade stalled and swelling into a mob.
"This is trouble. What could have happened?"
"Professor, has this ever occurred before?"
"No, never. It's tough for living humans, but always open to shades like them."
"I see."
Just a question to maintain my first-time fixer persona.
What was going on, though?
As the shades' clamor peaked, someone finally explained.
- Halt! Stay back!
- Halt! Stay back!
No, "appeared" wasn't right.
They'd been by the gate from the start.
- One among you hides intent to harm Cheongeomdang and Lord Mangum Daewang!
A massive totem on the main gate's right spoke.
"Grand General of All Under Heaven" was engraved below its head.
- No one enters until that suspicious one is found and expelled!
Now the "Grand General of All Beneath Heaven" totem bellowed.
The hulking totems' roars were more imposing than expected.
- Move!
- Open up!
- Gaaack!!
Words fell on deaf ears.
The shades, undeterred by the totems' threats, shrieked and rampaged.
Too late to intervene calmly—they tangled, trampling and crushing one another, no longer rational.
"Professor, let's fall back for now."
"Yes, better not get caught up front."
This was going to be a show.
Even for me, rare to see Cheongeomdang's totems fight.
- Retreat, or face the consequences!
- If you fools want to clash, we won't hold back!
Rumble rumble rumble!!!
Nearby dirt, sand, rocks, and stones lifted.
They clung to the totems' wooden pillars, forming their bodies.
The two totems now rose, bodies matching their fierce faces.
- Get lost! You insolent shades!
- You idiots! No more entries today!
Kwaaa!
Boom!
An 8-meter pair of monsters rampaged like moving mountains.
Shades burst with each arm swing, quakes with each stomp.
- Gyaaaah!!
- Die! Die!!
Yet the shades pressed on, howling meaninglessly, charging the giant threats before them.
I grabbed the professor's wheelchair to retreat, but he said something odd.
"Mr. Mage, can you stop that fight?"