Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: 17. Namman Beast Palace Masquerade (1)
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The day of the Namman Beast Palace Masquerade had arrived.
A total of 100 selected Beggar Clan Disciples.
It was a similar number to the fan signings.
Among them, those who met every condition.
In other words, the ones with faces covered, internal energy detectable, and body defect disguises numbered eleven in total.
Eleven out of a hundred—plenty if you thought it plenty, few if you thought it few.
“No way! Is this really it??”
Jaha shouted in outrage, dressed in the cosplay outfit Dang Sachun had picked out for him.
“Shouldn’t it be something handsome and cool?”
Jaha, complaining like that, was wearing a red Spider-Man spandex bodysuit.
That’s right. Spandex.
They could have made real hero suits no problem, but Dang Sachun had insisted on spandex.
“Wearing high-quality costumes would be as good as advertising that we’re from the Nine Sects United.”
“Even so, spandex?!”
“Doesn’t it suit you? It’s red.”
“You think I like everything just because it’s red?!”
Jaha threw a fit, but the other members stayed calm.
The Alliance Leader and Nahan had only learned about the [Namman Beast Palace Masquerade] later, but they accepted the masquerade concept without objection.
The two of them had opted for visible-face disguises, since covering their faces might confuse the sect disciples.
The Alliance Leader was Count Dracula.
Nahan was a priest.
Jaha eyed them enviously.
“Lucky. You guys got the cool ones.”
“This is ridiculous.”
The Heavenly Demon, disguised as himself, scowled.
“Why didn’t you give the monk the Gung Ye costume? That would’ve been hilarious!”
“That’s your issue? And how do you even know about Gung Ye?”
“Do you know the General’s son?”
“Why bring up the General’s son out of nowhere?”
“That guy was Gung Ye in a past life. Reincarnation is cruel.”
He’ll faint watching that Choi ○-jong drama later.
“But why are you just going as yourself, Heavenly Demon bro?”
“Lord Heavenly Demon has an event later.”
“What’s that supposed to mean! I wanna do Ju Jaha cosplay too! Even Ilgeom bro cosplay would do!”
“My disciple, but no conscience…”
“What?!”
Namgung Mu and Taegeuk watched Jaha fume with awkward expressions.
Namgung Mu and Taegeuk were in full-body suits too, sort of.
Namgung Mu’s ghost disguise was just a white sheet thrown over his head.
Taegeuk was just in a mascot head. A black bear mascot head.
I wasn’t performing, so I just lightly wore a Heavenly Demon mask.
But Dang Sachun, that guy, had come to work in Heavenly Demon cosplay.
“You… stalking Lord Heavenly Demon and all… aren’t you just a sasaeng fan?”
“Heh heh. Don’t worry. My top bias right now is Ox bro.”
“Defan.”
“...!”
While we bantered, the 100 invited Beggar Clan Disciples entered the Namman Beast Palace.
There were quite a few with surprisingly high-quality costumes.
But even more had that cheap-and-cute vibe.
I scanned for the Demon Subduing Sword, but with the disciples swarming everywhere, it was hard to spot.
“Alright, you guys head out too. Blend in naturally over there, wander around casually until the event starts.”
“Got it.”
The Alliance Leader and Nahan left the waiting room without a hint of suspicion, and as Jaha, Taegeuk, and Namgung Mu followed, I whispered quietly behind them.
“If someone with internal energy approaches, stay alert. Say what I taught you.”
“Got it. Kinda nervous.”
Maybe from anticipation of reuniting with the defected members.
Jaha’s complaints about the spandex didn’t last long.
The three dashed out of the waiting room, and instead of blending with the disciples, Heavenly Demon, I, and Dang Sachun moved to the Ferris wheel up top.
Dang Sachun hopped effortlessly between the cars, but I had to be carried dangling from Heavenly Demon’s hand.
…I’ll learn martial arts someday too.
“Hmm.”
Heavenly Demon, overlooking the grounds from the Ferris wheel’s peak, tilted his head slightly.
“Something strange has slipped in.”
“Something strange?”
“Halfway-turned humans, perhaps.”
“...”
Halfway-turned… things? Plural?
It was an unreal tale, but by now, nothing would surprise me.
Even if half-human somethings were down there, sure, why not.
Heavenly Demon was right beside me, after all.
“Will it be dangerous if we leave it?”
“Well… those three should handle it fine.”
“Weaklings?”
“No. They’re two, we’re three—numbers advantage, right?”
I couldn’t gauge their internal energy levels, so no clue if Heavenly Demon was joking or serious.
At least it was a relief they were few—just two… or two creatures?
Anyway, not a huge number infiltrating, so that was good.
If it were really dangerous, Heavenly Demon would’ve rushed down.
…Right?
Dang Sachun, scanning below, reported politely.
“Bro, all the Beggar Clan Disciples are heading to the center.”
Sure enough, the disciples in all sorts of costumes were gathering at Jaguar Plaza in the middle of Namman Beast Palace.
“Then, Lord Heavenly Demon, if you please.”
“Understood.”
Heavenly Demon exhaled and gently closed his eyes.
A soft breeze spread from him.
Flutter.
His hair and robes billowed dramatically. I blinked, and there they were—six Heavenly Demons, just like in the practice room that day.
No, precisely, they hovered. In midair.
“Let’s go.”
The six Heavenly Demons descended slowly over Jaguar Plaza, ignoring gravity, and screams erupted from the disciples below.
Of course, not screams of fear—screams of ecstasy.
The six Heavenly Demons who landed among the disciples opened their mouths in unison.
Each word, infused with internal energy, boomed across Jaguar Plaza.
[Welcome to the Heavenly Demon Beast Palace, you Beggar Clan brats.]
Heavenly Demon Beast Palace?
That wasn’t in the script.
The original line was Namman Beast Palace, but this show-off changed it?
Heavenly Demon continued undeterred.
[You’ve come to my palace in false guises, so seek the truth. To the brat who discerns true from false, I shall grant the title of Little Palace Lord.]
The [Namman Beast Palace Masquerade] prizes included lifetime passes to Namman Beast Palace.
Some disciples griped about who’d want that, but… I knew some had joined the masquerade solely for the “Namman Beast Palace Little Palace Lord” title.
Fans of Nine Sects United who came all tricked out like this.
Had to be total concept slaves!
[Now then, good luck, brats.]
With that, the six Heavenly Demons kicked off and scattered in all directions.
Right.
The main event of the [Namman Beast Palace Masquerade]……
* * *
“It’s not a treasure hunt—it’s a Heavenly Demon hunt!”
Blended among the disciples, Jaha watched Heavenly Demon’s event declaration and finally clapped as realization dawned.
Namgung Mu and Taegeuk, now gathered beside him, chimed in.
“Not bad. With all eyes on Lord Heavenly Demon, fewer will notice us.”
“In this situation… we should approach the disciples not chasing Heavenly Demon, the ones lingering elsewhere.”
He worried three together might stand out.
But the disciples either knew each other from before or had bonded here.
More moved in groups than solo.
Most scattered after Heavenly Demon, but a few headed directions the six Heavenly Demons hadn’t.
Namgung Mu spotted them first and moved.
“There they are. The ones not chasing Lord Heavenly Demon.”
“Maybe they’re just not into the Heavenly Demon hunt? Who’d fall for a lifetime pass anyway.”
“No. They’ve sniffed out the hunt as bait. Moving opposite Heavenly Demon on purpose means they’re testing our reaction.”
“Hmm… if Juni says so, let’s follow.”
For now, three suspicious groups caught their eye.
One duo, one trio.
And one sixsome.
“Numbers-wise, the six match the excommunicated disciples…”
“Doubt all six came. Plus, a sixsome stands out too much here.”
“Pro cosplay team.”
“Ah, crap, you scared me!”
Dang Sachun had sneaked up, startling Jaha.
“Hey! Make some noise when you walk!”
“Sorry, but I did. Jaha sunbae’s senses are just dull.”
“What? You calling me spandex and dissing me?”
“Jaha sunbae, don’t diss the spandex.”
Namgung Mu, fidgeting as Jaha and Dang Sachun bickered, said quietly.
“The duo and trio vanished while we talked. Only the sixsome’s ahead.”
Sure enough, the duo and trio had slipped away somewhere, leaving the sixsome walking nearby.
But Dang Sachun said disinterestedly.
“Those guys are here for a group shoot. Rides are stopped—perfect for filming.”
“How do you know?”
“Their costumes. All from one show. You don’t know subculture.”
“Su-subculture? What’s that, you otaku!”
“Huh?”
The response didn’t come from Dang Sachun.
A passing Beggar Clan Disciple reacted to Jaha’s shout and turned.
Jaha flinched and hid behind Taegeuk.
“Why’d ‘otaku’ make him turn?”
“‘Cause it’s otaku?”
Dang Sachun said it casually, oblivious.
The disciple who reacted to “otaku” was in a folding screen cosplay.
Jaha, eyeing him warily, spotted the disciple next to him in his own cosplay—Ju Jaha cosplay—and brightened.
‘Oh, my fan!’
Puffed up that it was his fan, Jaha deliberately lowered his voice.
“You two look great. One’s genius artist Ju Jaha cosplay… and the other’s… unique? Folding screen?”
“Uh, this is Namgung Jun cosplay?”
“Hey, let’s go. No need to deal with spandex boy.”
The two disciples left coldly.
Jaha stood stunned.
“…That wasn’t a folding screen?”
“It was.”
“That guy must be Juni’s anti.”
“Folding screen’s kinda cute, though.”
“Isn’t that duo suspicious?”
“They’re heading opposite us. Chasing Heavenly Demon.”
Then, one of the missed teams—the duo—passed by on the path ahead.
The four exchanged glances instantly.
Taegeuk murmured low.
“Let’s tail them.”
The four lightly pursued, but oddly, the distance didn’t close.
Like they were folding space with each step……
‘That’s lightness skill.’
Namgung Mu, who’d seen lightness skill users back home constantly, recognized it instantly.
The duo ahead definitely practiced martial arts.
But his own internal energy wasn’t enough to catch up.
Namgung Mu looked to Dang Sachun and Taegeuk.
“Can you speed up?”
Taegeuk nodded silently, and Dang Sachun shot ahead before Namgung Mu finished, right on the duo’s heels.
‘Dead end ahead.’
Thinking he’d nearly caught them, rounding the corner—
The duo vanished again, like evaporating.
Taegeuk and Namgung Mu arrived next, then lagging Jaha last, startling as he scanned around.
“What? Where’d they go?”
Turning at the eerie feeling—
The vanished duo approached slowly from behind.
Though not small-built, they gave a frail impression.
The reason was obvious.
Of the duo in matching masks of different colors.
The blue-masked disciple was missing his right arm.
The red-masked one, his left.
Hence the frail look despite their size.
The blue-masked disciple spoke first.
“Who’re you?”
The red-masked one excitedly added.
“Who, you?”
“Why follow?”
“Follow, why?”
“Got business?”
“Business, got?”
‘Their speech is weird.’
Sensing something off, Namgung Mu pulled Jaha back.
“Forgot to mention.”
Dang Sachun whispered from behind.
“Lord Heavenly Demon said non-humans mixed in here.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Dangerous ones.”
“These two look dangerous to anyone. What do we do?”
As Jaha asked, pensive Taegeuk spoke.
“Madness… might’ve set in.”
“Madness?”
Taegeuk’s eyes stayed on the duo’s missing limbs.
“…Limbs gone like that. Madness wouldn’t be surprising.”
Jaha scowled briefly, then shrugged it off.
Facing the duo, he asked softly.
“No… eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind?”
The line their head manager Jeom Soi told them to say to suspicious groups.
The duo snickered mockingly.
“We know this one.”
“Know this, we.”
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind.
Lyrics from [Murim Most Wanted].
Before that, a verse from the Heart Sutra.
The next line would surely be.
The blue-masked one stepped forward, replying chillingly.
“No color-sound-smell-taste-touch-dharma… right?”
“...”
Jaha backed away wordlessly as Dang Sachun and Taegeuk stepped up.
The duo, oddly excited, closed in tight.
“The dogshit spell Shakyamuni made!”
“Dogshit, Shakyamuni!”
“Came looking for us, huh?”
“Looking, huh, us?”
“Excommunicated disciples.”
“Disciples, excommunicated!”
“No.”
Dang Sachun drew his sword from his sleeve, cutting in firmly.
“You’re not excommunicated disciples. That’s not the response to No Eye-Ear-Nose-Tongue-Body-Mind.”