Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Sealed Demon Cave
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Sealed Demon Cave.
Inside it weren't just skilled artisans.
The potter, who had been shaping clay, pulled his hands away.
"It's like lunchtime, so we have some time to chat. I wanted to hear stories from outside anyway."
"Outside...?"
"I've been in here for over five years. Some have nearly hit ten. If you're an outsider... are you with the inspection team? You're the first outsider I've seen coming in through that side instead of the Subduing Demon Squad Leader."
The potter spoke casually.
"As you know, Sealed Demon Cave houses some of the finest artisans even within our cult. They're people who've grown weary of power and fame and left the secular world behind. And there are groups who volunteered to enter here to learn their techniques. People like me-trainees. We came through the back gate, not the front. Once you're in, you can't leave for ten years. And even while passing through that gate, you have to wear a black blindfold."
"...Hmm."
"We learn and hone our skills inside here. Of course, direct instruction from the master artisans is rare. At first, it's all about imitating by eye and struggling to make something similar. Once you gain some experience, you might get some guidance... or you could just struggle for ten years and leave. Sometimes, those who weren't chosen help each other out. There's a subtle system to it. Our only connection to the outside is the supply team that comes here. We ask them for favors and occasionally get what we need."
The potter grinned.
"The outside must have changed a lot. Do you know of a place called Sahyeon Township? It's my hometown, and I haven't heard news in so long-it's a shame. Being an orphan, I don't have anyone to keep in touch with anyway. But... when I close my eyes, those memories come flooding back fresh. I'll have to spend another five years here before I can see that sight again."
"Doesn't it feel suffocating?"
"Of course it does. But you could call this a guaranteed path to success. Ten years. Spend ten years here, and you can start out as a renowned artisan. Having learned your craft in Sealed Demon Cave is as good as a guarantee of skill. I'm one who walked in here myself because I had nowhere else to lean on. Of course, I did have some interest in pottery."
The potter offered some advice.
"Money from outside is worthless in here. If you see something you want, try bartering. Everything from outside is precious here, so you might get something big even for a small item."
Sealed Demon Cave.
The street of the demon craftsmen.
I glanced around the place known by that name. Seo Cho-hee cleared her throat.
"Senior Brother. I think gifting a dagger would be best."
".......?"
"You can use it in emergencies, and a high-quality dagger serves as fine jewelry on its own. In the North Gate Book House, it's customary to gift a dagger to someone you're fond of."
Seo Cho-hee dragged me to a workshop displaying daggers.
The smith, who had been honing a blade, looked up.
"Inspection team? Ah, those folks from outside. I'm always slow on news. I only care about making things. Well, look around if you want something."
"Ha, each one is... top-grade...!"
Seo Cho-hee's eyes sparkled.
"How do we pay?!"
"Show me what you've got."
Just in case, I showed him some money.
"Pah. That's worth less than a rock here. Got anything else?"
"Anything else...?"
I turned my travel pack, which I'd brought along, and pulled out its contents.
Semi-dried rations. Various tools for travel.
There was nothing worth trading. Buying seemed impossible.
"Huh? Wait. What's that?"
"Pardon?"
I pulled out a bundle of the large amount of jerky the First Demon had packed for me. Even after sharing with Eun Seol-ran, there was still plenty left, and the artisan's eyes changed.
"Whoa! Jerky! How long's it been since I last saw some?!"
"No cooks in here?"
"There are! Plenty! But honestly, they're all picky. They don't count jerky as real food. It's easy to make, and there's hardly any technique to preserve it, or so they say. So we don't make much here. Since it's not made much, it's rare. It does come in from outside sometimes... but it all goes straight to the real 'master craftsmen.' Almost none reaches learners like us. Folks more interested in making than eating prefer something they can just chew on. We used to make do with hardtack..."
The artisan smacked his lips.
"Give me three big bundles. I'll give you... not one dagger, but two. Aw, heck, three. Whatever! Gotta savor it."
An unexpected windfall. The jerky was stockpiled in thick bundles, nearly a hundred sheets strung together.
The artisan took a small bite from one and let out a yell.
"Holy hell! This is premium stuff! Hard to come by... No wonder rich kids have it good! Aw, what the heck! Take five daggers!"
"Premium jerky... What's so special...? Can I try a little?"
"Of course, Senior Brother."
"...Mm... Whoa... This is way better quality than what I have! Where'd you get it?! You couldn't buy this for all the money in the world?!"
It was from the First Demon...
Was it that valuable?
It did have a nice umami flavor. I decided to buy an even rarer gift. Seo Cho-hee beamed as she eagerly picked out daggers for me.
"This one, this one... up to five here should be good, Senior Brother."
"Why these?"
"The ornamentation is elegant from the start. Superb patterns. Each has a distinct personality... no flaws in the joints. The tips are razor-sharp... and the sheaths are ornate, so they'll surely save your life in danger."
"Heh heh. The lady knows how to sweet-talk. What the heck! Take one more!"
"Th-thank you!"
Six daggers for three bundles of jerky.
Stunned by the surprise, I naturally offered half to Seo Cho-hee.
But she flatly refused.
"It's all yours, Senior Brother. I absolutely can't accept."
"Man, six daggers for three bundles of jerky... What is this? Are other places the same? Maybe with my jerky...?"
At a nearby woodwork shop, Gun Cheon-gyeong held out some jerky.
He grimaced ambiguously and picked up a small carving.
"Just take this or whatever."
"Pardon? But that's jerky..."
"Jerky. Rare, sure. But this is just... dried meat, right? Not even properly salted-bitter aftertaste. Tch... Small too. I'm a maker, not a merchant. Don't know how to haggle. That's what I value it at. Go elsewhere if you're unhappy."
Gun Cheon-gyeong's shoulders slumped.
"I wanted that Buddha statue back there..."
"How about mine?"
I handed over one bundle of jerky.
The woodworker handed over three Buddha statues.
"Nghhh! Top quality! Take 'em!"
"What the...?!"
Gun Cheon-gyeong shot me a heated gaze.
"J-Junior...! C-Can I really take them...?"
"Of course, Senior Brother. Didn't you share your water with me? Think of it as payment for that."
"Water ain't worth gold!"
I watched Gun Cheon-gyeong hurriedly stuff the statues away, then pulled a dagger from my pack and nudged Seo Cho-hee.
"Seo Junior Sister."
"Cho-hee is fine, Senior Brother."
"I'm not fine with it."
"Senior Brother, please drop the formalities? You do with Yeon Gong... I... I want you to with me too."
"...Cho-hee."
"Yes! Senior Brother!"
I firmly placed the dagger in Seo Cho-hee's sparkling eyes.
"Take it."
"Y-Yes?! B-But just now you said... no, I said I wouldn't accept..."
"Thanks to you, I basically got one free. It's yours by right. If you won't take it, I'll toss it on the ground."
"Th-That...! To throw away something from you...!"
Seo Cho-hee fiddled with the dagger.
"I'll cherish it till I die!"
"Toss it when it dulls."
"I'll sharpen it and use it again!"
"...Fine."
We lightly strolled the streets. Sealed Demon Cave was vast to begin with, and the haphazardly connected buildings meant there was too much to see.
Gun Cheon-gyeong racked his brain.
"Gifts were the main goal, right? Let's see... Daggers. She might like those, but I think differently. She's a woman... How about accessories?"
"Not sure..."
"Any woman loves hairpins! Of course, they carry other meanings too... but master-disciple should be fine. She'd love it."
We bought a suitable hairpin. Offering jerky got five more as bonus.
"Take 'em! Haha! Mmm... good, good, good...! Excellent flavor!"
This was getting ridiculous. Just what had the First Demon given me?
Wandering the streets, we picked up unintended info too. Most out here were technicians who'd trained five years or more.
The true master craftsmen were deep inside, beyond reach.
"They're called the Nine Heavens Demon Craftsmen. They get first pick of supplies. They're on another level from regular artisans."
"Is Ghost Valley Night Craftsman one of them?"
"Of course! They're at the realm of breathing soul into objects or whatever. Anyway, all amazing! Most here came to learn from them. Though we've barely seen their faces."
Seo Cho-hee, grinning goofily at her dagger, pointed ahead.
"Senior Brother. What about a glass tea set?"
"Glass tea set?"
"Tea arts can't start without tools, right? Glass is rare since few handle it, so it'd make a great gift. Can't get tea leaves here, so I think that's best..."
A great idea. But the shop we entered had more than clear glass.
No idea how, but colored pieces were everywhere. Some sparkled like embedded gems.
The glass artisan eyed us boredly.
"No trade goods? Don't bother me, scram..."
I handed over jerky.
"Browse all you want!"
Gun Cheon-gyeong picked up a piece. A resplendent golden teacup.
"Symbolizes dignity, right? Gotta be something like this to impress."
Seo Cho-hee picked one up. A deep green matching tea leaf hue.
"Matches tea color, so it'll blend naturally. Harmonizes with other tools too."
I pondered and pondered. Suddenly, the Blood Silk Bird burst from my pack with a flap-flap.
"Huh? Blood Silk Bird?"
"B-Blood Silk Bird?! That Blood Silk Bird?! No way Senior Brother's from the Blood Slaughter Squad...?!"
The Blood Silk Bird spread its wings and landed on one spot. A pale pink-tinged glass tea set.
The artisan exclaimed in admiration.
"Sharp-eyed bird. A spirit beast?"
"Maybe."
"Thanks for picking a good one. Feels like praise from a spirit beast. Let's see... there's a matching set. Want those too?"
"Yes. Thank you. Price...?"
"Just two bundles of jerky."
After paying, I packed it away. It was wrapped separately, so no breakage worries.
As I turned to leave, my eyes caught something.
"...How much for that?"
"Huh? That one?"
The artisan grinned.
"Free. Take it."
"Pardon?"
"Didn't expect you'd pick that. Keeping it? Or gifting?"
"For someone."
"Why?"
"Her... "
I tucked the received item into my bosom.
"The vibe matches."
...
Back at the lodging. Jang Wol-ryong said the patients were doing fine.
Eun Seol-ran emerged first. She shuddered with a sigh.
"What a nightmare..."
"Something happen inside?"
"Those needles felt like awls. Ugh... Junior. You see all of Sealed Demon Cave streets?"
"Roughly... Ah. Got something for you, Senior Sister Seol-ran."
"Me? What?"
I handed her a dagger.
Eun Seol-ran's expression turned subtle.
"...Why this?"
"Got lucky and snagged a bunch like this. Had extras, so wanted to give you one..."
"Pretty high-end for that."
Eun Seol-ran drew the dagger and inspected it under lantern light.
"Junior. Know what this means?"
"Heard in North Gate Book House, it's a gift to someone you like."
"You knew and still gave it?"
"It fits-I do like you."
I smiled.
"No way I'd dislike my senior."
"...Look at you."
Eun Seol-ran sheathed the dagger. Slapped her cheeks, then caught her breath.
"Look at you look at you look at you look at you look at you..."
"Senior?"
"Shut up stay still you fox why's your tail wagging like that..."
Eun Seol-ran glared at me.
"Take off the human skin mask."
"Pardon?"
"No one's here. Take it off."
I did.
Eun Seol-ran thrust her hips forward. Fixed her clothes, then slipped between my legs.
---Thud.
Her small head touched my chest.
A pose like naturally nestling in.
"S-Seol-ran Senior?"
"Go again. With me."
"Pardon?"
"Just us. I'll buy."
Looking down, Eun Seol-ran's slapped cheeks weren't the only red parts-her ears too.
"...Don't wanna?"
"I do...?"
"...Hmph."
The next day, I strolled the streets again with Eun Seol-ran.
She strutted proudly, telling me to pick anything I wanted, but froze when she realized only jerky traded.
"This is you showing off with my money?!"
"It's from the First Demon too, so..."
"Ughhh...! I boasted big and this is embarrassing...!"
Deflated, Eun Seol-ran recovered by chewing jerky.
"Eating money..."
"You're cute as ever, Senior."
"Wh-What?! You little...!"
Wandering the streets was pure fun.
But heavy business awaited after.
Days later, Subduing Demon Squad Leader Na So-wan returned. He eyed me wearily.
"...Cut off Jin Wi-ryang's right-hand man."