The Clown Pagliacci's Tale
Namgung Family #2
This time, the story is about the clown Pagliacci.
"This one's from the Western Regions too, Fairy Lady. Do you know anything about mental illness or depression?"
"It's a sickness that afflicts those born weak or frail by nature."
Is this the pre-modern Murim mindset?
"There's some truth to that, but even someone with a strong spirit can fall into such a mental affliction if they suffer a great despair and wound their heart."
"Hmm, that makes sense."
"Yes. This is the tale of such a man."
The story begins like this.
"A man sunk in sorrow consulted a physician. He said he was so overwhelmed by his mental illness that he couldn't go on living."
"Can physicians treat mental illnesses?"
"They say there are such doctors in the West."
"I see. When people fall into despair, they naturally want to confide in someone."
The man begged the doctor to cure his illness.
"The physician said, 'You're in luck! The famous great clown Pagliacci has just arrived in the city! If you see his performance, you'll surely shake off that sorrow!'"
"Indeed. A show by a clown renowned as the Great Light Clown might just lift one's spirits."
"Right?"
Okhwa Geom listened intently to my tale, utterly absorbed.
"But strangely, upon hearing the physician's words, the man clutched his face and began wailing in agony, sobbing like a madman."
"Eh? Why?"
"Why do you think?"
"What, now it's a riddle?"
"Try to guess."
"...Hmm."
Okhwa Geom crossed her arms, deep in thought. Her chest was so massive that just that motion accentuated its ferocity. Even covered by her martial robes, it was impressive—what must the real size be?
"Why did he cry... Ah, maybe because a mere show couldn't cure depression? That'd be too bland."
"No."
"Or perhaps some circumstance preventing him from attending, like a blood feud."
"Not that either."
"Argh, just tell me already. What's the reason?"
"It's this."
I cleared my throat dramatically.
"The physician panicked as the man began sobbing. He asked why he was crying so. The man answered with difficulty."
—Crunch.
I clutched my face realistically, acting it out.
"Oh, Doctor...! I am that Great Clown Pagliacci!"
"Gasp!"
Okhwa Geom's eyes widened in shock at my vivid, eerie performance. Seeing that sparked a strange delight in me. Come to think of it, before coming to this Murim world, I'd been an arts student nurturing dreams of acting. Manipulating emotions through performance was to be my trade.
And just now, my skill had proven itself. Look at Okhwa Geom's reaction—she was completely captivated by my storytelling.
"No way! So the man was the Great Clown!"
"Exactly. The irony of a clown famous for entertaining others, unable to entertain himself. That's the story."
"Incredible! How could such a tale exist!"
Satisfied, she even clapped in applause, heaping praise.
"Heh heh, glad you enjoyed it."
"Geun-hyeop, you know so many great stories. You can't possibly be just some commoner."
"That's just who I am."
"Got any more?"
"Sure, one more short one. But this is less a story and more a ghost tale where you guess the answer."
"Oho, a ghost story? Now that's intriguing."
I was sleeping on the second floor when suddenly I heard my mother's voice. She said it was dangerous up there and to come down quick. So I went down, but then from Mom's room on the second floor, her voice called out again. Listening closely, it said she'd heard that sound too, and to absolutely not come down. Which is the real mom?
"...!"
Okhwa Geom started pondering the riddle. And so, I passed the time chatting with her about this and that.
In the middle, we stopped by a village to wash up thoroughly. We were all covered in blood, so it felt great. But with no spare clothes, I had to endure the villagers' stares and buy new ones—such a damn waste. Fucking rural hicks.
Anyway, since we were there, I lounged shirtless on the bed for some rest.
—Knock knock.
"Yes."
"Geun-hyeop. You there?"
"Ah, hold on! I'm shirtless right now!"
"Perfect."
Perfect how?!
—Creak.
Okhwa Geom opened the door and entered.
"Kyaaah!"
"What was that girly scream? Lie face down quick. I'll check your pulse."
"Pulse? Oh right."
We'd agreed to a quick check before reaching her home. After all that yodan, something would show up.
"On it!"
"Good."
She closed the door and approached lightly. But the mood felt off. Alone in a room with a beauty like Okhwa Geom. And shirtless, no less.
"Now, slowly. Circulate your inner energy like in meditation."
"Got it."
—Swish.
Her soft palm glided over my lower back.
"Eek hee."
"Hm?"
"N-no, it's just so ticklish..."
"Don't make weird noises."
"Wait, it really tickles, so go slower please."
"Ticklish?"
—Swish.
"Heeek!"
No shit it's ticklish if you stroke bare skin with your fingers!
"'Heeek'? What a bizarre sound. And flopping like a fish. Heh, there's a limit to overreacting."
"Aigoo, it really tickles!"
"I said endure it."
"Urk!"
I forcibly held back the tickling and focused on circulating my energy. Let's see. Slowly, like meditation. Spread the inner energy through the meridians.
"..."
At first, the tickling distracted me, but lying on a proper bed helped. As tension eased, I felt my inner energy stirring.
"Hmm."
Okhwa Geom now pressed both hands on my back for the pulse check. Her breathing right above me made it hard to hold still.
"No peculiarities. I expected impure or demonic energy from the yodan, but nothing like that."
"Really?"
"Yes. Most bizarre. Normally, ingesting yodan would fell you flat."
Hearing that, even I thought that sounded right. Why was I fine? And my energy so pure? Unfathomable.
"Guess we need a proper physician to know for sure."
"Agreed. Get dressed."
"Yes ma'am."
I hurriedly dressed. She waited instead of leaving, so the awkwardness built. Curiosity won out.
"By the way, Fairy Lady."
"You can use my name."
"Ah, yes. Namgung Serin. First time in the labyrinth, but is that normal?"
"No. That was extraordinarily unusual."
She shook her head.
"Usually just minor yokai demons appear, but as you know, there was Saseon-nyeo's illusion soul stiff there. She even summoned a Ma-du Nachal. Unprecedented."
"I see."
"Yes. It should've ended without issue... Sigh. Now this. I'll report to the family right away. And alert the Murim Alliance for precautions."
"Murim Alliance!"
First time hearing that here!
"They'll prepare if it's about Saseon-nyeo?"
"Everyone will be cautious. That witch might stir another blood calamity, so investigations will follow."
Saseon-nyeo's infamy must be immense. Never cross paths with that witch—instant death.
Murim's great blood disaster? Leave it to the Ten Great Masters or whatever. Guys like me just hide.
"Hope it resolves well. Whew. Just thinking of that Ma-du Nachal makes my heart race. Such a monstrous yokai."
"It's said a Central Plains vicious killer—Peak realm warrior—could handle it... but it was strong. Fresh from the Ghost Gate in the labyrinth, at peak power."
She looked quite downcast. Namgung Serin was Peak realm. Nearly losing to a Ma-du Nachal must sting her pride.
"But you shredded it. That's what counts. That thing felt agony, despair, and defeat till the end."
"True."
"And... that martial art was insane. Namgung Serin, was that...?"
"Yes. Namgung Family's secret: Cheon-gung Mu-ae Geom-beop."
"As expected!"
I knew it was legendary!
"Felt like heaven crashing down...! So beautiful, yet devastating. 'Worthy of Namgung Family' just slipped out!"
"Heh, spot-on assessment. You have an eye for it."
Praising her martial art softened her expression. She must be distraught, especially after losing subordinates. So I comforted her like praising my aunt.
"Geun-hyeop, you seem very cultured."
"Studying arts alongside martial ways."
"Impressive."
Namgung Serin stood.
"Ah."
Standing, her elegance struck again. Graceful, upright impression. Sharp eyes suited her stoic face. But why the hime cut in wuxia? It'd bugged me since first sight.
"Rest. We leave early morning."
"Yes."
"Ah, looking forward to tomorrow's tale."
"What am I, a story sack?"
Namgung Serin left, leaving me alone. Finally, some rest.
In my dream, I stood alone in a crimson void. Looking closer, it was hell. Raging infernal flames, sinners wailing. There, the hideous yokai like that Ma-du Nachal from before held a banquet.
I was attending too—shockingly, my seat was on a giant platter. Yes, I was served up as their feast.
"Kyaaah!"
Fuck, this nightmare again!
"Huff, huff!"
Probably from all the horrors in the labyrinth. My mind's gone dark. Am I catching Pagliacci's mental illness?
"Ugh."
I drank water to steady myself. Honestly, the great ghost grabbing that ronin with both hands and ripping off his head to eat... traumatic as hell, hard to forget. Like showing Attack on Titan to Amazon tribesmen cut off from civilization—they'd freak like the manga extras. Same with Ma-du Nachal bisecting that Hacheon warrior.
My head's being overrun by gruesome memories.
"Time for meditation."
I immediately meditated to banish the heart demon. Song-ssi would coldly assess his psyche and rigorously meditate to cure PTSD.
—Hummm.
Light meditation chased bad thoughts; I cultivated my inner energy. Felt a bit better.
But lounging here, one thought kept poking my brain.
The Ma-du Nachal's yodan. I wanted to eat it.