Entering the Palace (1)
The newly rebuilt Immortal Realm theater for entertainers stood once more.
The once-packed auditorium now echoed emptily.
Including Dang Gunak himself, there were fewer than ten immortals inside.
The rest were all outside.
Wailing to be let in.
This incident had turned into a blessing in disguise.
The judge's scales had declared them not guilty, granting them legitimate cause.
Exchanges with other worlds weren't chaos—they were harmonious creation.
The immortal of harmony.
That was none other than Dokseon Dang Gunak.
They had to throw a celebration party, right?
Of course, with champagne.
Pop!
Taeju over there always insisted on sending only the finest.
This Armand de Brignac champagne was even pricier than Dom Pérignon—five bottles, no less.
They said at some Earth club, ordering a few bottles of Armand got your name up on the billboard...
Dang Gunak lounged in a plush chair, pouring a glass of Armand for each immortal watching the movie.
Glug, glug—the golden liquid filled the glasses halfway.
Amid it all, the desperate cries from outside.
"Dokseon! Do-okseon! Doooook..."
The immortals clicked their tongues.
"Hah, those bastards! Ruining the booze. Can't even hear the movie lines."
"Tsk tsk, can't focus, can't focus!"
"We absolutely can't let them in, no matter what."
"Gwigok, is the barrier solid?"
"Don't worry. Even the Supreme Old Lord couldn't breach it this time."
Ignoring the racket outside, Taegok Immortal gulped down his champagne with an ecstatic expression.
"Kaaah! As expected of premium stuff. The harmony of carbonation and spirits is exquisite!"
Dang Gunak asked curiously.
"You're the Immortal of Liquor, aren't you? Is champagne that good?"
"Of course it is. It's booze from another world—consider the rarity. Who else but you, Dokseon, could get me this?"
Taegok Immortal had a point.
Even cheap snacks from Earth were rarer than the Peaches of Immortality in the Immortal Realm.
Dang Gunak was treating the immortals who'd sided with him.
Armand for free, top-grade cheese to go with it—also free.
And so...
"Dokseon, we're in it till the end!"
"Whatever you need, just say the word. I'll give it my all to help you."
"Even if you ask me to steal heavenly peaches."
"Damn right! We won't betray you."
Not just the immortals inside the tent—the ones outside must have realized it by now too.
Dokseon had become the supreme power in the Immortal Realm.
"Too bad Geomseon's not here."
"Tsk tsk, of all things, raiding the Peach Orchard."
"Can't be helped. That's clear-cut guilt."
Geomseon was still locked in the Thunder Prison.
Was there no way to spring him?
Then—
Crackle-crackle-crack!
A rift formed in the barrier Gwigok Immortal had set.
"Damn it! Those fools, now messing with the barrier?"
"Can't stand by anymore. I was going to let fellow immortals be, but—"
"Time to teach them a lesson. I'll be back before the Armand goes flat."
"Aren't they a bit outnumbered?"
"...You think they'd dare kill us?"
"If only Geomseon were here, those punks wouldn't dare whine."
But those tampering with the barrier weren't immortals.
From beyond the tent came a woman's coquettish voice.
"Dokseon? It's Miho Immortal Maiden. Could you open the barrier?"
Miho Immortal Maiden...
"From the Peach Blossom Palace, right?"
"Yes. The nine-tailed fox who attends Seowangmo."
"What's she here for?"
Gwigok Immortal glanced at Dang Gunak.
Asking whether to let her in or block her.
"Eh, let her in. Just talking isn't hard."
At Dang Gunak's permission, Gwigok briefly dropped the barrier.
It wasn't just Miho Immortal Maiden.
"Seowangmo?"
"What brings her here..."
"Picking another fight?"
"Ugh, should've kept it shut."
Seowangmo ignored the immortals' grumbles.
She simply stared at the movie on the screen for a long while before saying,
"Dokseon, you've become hard to meet."
"Whose fault do you think that is?"
"Don't be so cold. I'm here for a deal."
"A deal?"
Seowangmo turned to Miho Immortal Maiden.
"Miho, bring the basket."
The Immortal Maiden Miho arrived carrying a large basket brimming with Peaches of Immortality.
"Fifty top-grade heavenly peaches. The kind that only goes to the Heavenly Immortal Realm."
"Why give me these?"
"I told you. I want to make a deal."
In truth, Dang Gunak knew what she wanted.
But would he hand it over easily?
He pulled a Hermès Birkin bag from his infinite space.
"Is this what you want?"
Seowangmo's expression changed in an instant.
Her eyes filled with raw desire for the bag.
Miho Immortal Maiden too.
Her eyes spun like they'd pop out.
"Y-yes. That's what I want."
"This for fifty heavenly peaches?"
"...Not enough? I gathered only the best."
"You know better than that, Seowangmo."
"Haa..."
Seowangmo sighed deeply.
Dokseon was right.
The bag's beauty was undeniable.
An item from another world, impossible to find in the Immortal Realm or human world—while heavenly peaches littered the Peach Orchard.
"What are your terms? Tell me."
"You planning to agree?"
"If it's within my power."
Then let's test her.
"First, free Geomseon. Pardon his crimes and release him from the Thunder Prison."
"Hmm."
She paused briefly.
"I'll make it happen... Is that all?"
Of course not—one more thing.
"And you'll still give the peaches. Fifty top-grade is too stingy, isn't it?"
"Ha, but top-grade are rare. It'd take at least three months for more to ripen..."
"No top-grade? Then fifty more of the next best. Total of a hundred."
Seowangmo pondered.
But she had no choice.
To get that bag, she'd meet any demand.
At least he hadn't asked for heavenly peaches.
"Fine. I'll do it. Can I send the rest later?"
"Sure."
The deal was struck.
Dang Gunak handed the Hermès Birkin to Seowangmo.
"Want me to draw an infinite space formation on it?"
"No. Don't touch it. Keep it as-is from the other world."
He knew it.
Stock over tuned.
Better untouched.
On Earth, women treated these bags like relics.
No using it to shield from rain without an umbrella—they'd use their own body as the umbrella to protect the luxury bag.
Seowangmo gently cradled the bag, her face alight with emotion.
"Miho, bring the bronze mirror."
"Yes, Lady Seowangmo."
She angled the mirror, twisting this way and that to admire herself.
"How do I look?"
"Oh, you look stunning."
"But it doesn't match my outfit. I'll have to get something custom later."
It wasn't just Seowangmo.
Miho Immortal Maiden's eyes burned with longing for the bag too.
She flashed Dang Gunak a sly, flirtatious smile.
A fox being foxy—what's the harm?
This vixen...
Flirting where?
On Taeju's Earth, that smile might empty men's savings for a bag—but not here.
Yet even after the deal, Seowangmo lingered, gazing at Dokseon.
"Mind if I stay a bit?"
"...Ah! To watch the movie?"
"Yes."
"Eh, that's on the house."
"On the house?"
"We got that service here. Sit comfy, watch, then go. Want some Armand?"
"Ah!"
She'd probably come back tomorrow.
Charge her then.
The Immortal Realm theater under Dang Gunak now had two more patrons.
After delivering the imperial decree, Secretary Geum Suhu returned to New Seoul.
Taeju then discussed countermeasures in the chairman's office with Baek Seoyeonn and Baek Hongpyo.
"Alright! Give me some advice. What should I do?"
Baek Hongpyo said,
"Lifetime governor of Gurye? That's basically granting a fief. Even with your new drug merits... this feels excessive."
He was right.
A medal or bonus would've sufficed.
He knew the real reason, though.
The conversation with Geum Suhu before the decree.
He definitely knew something.
About him and Yi Sam-baek killing the Black Evil Dragon.
Baek Seoyeonn, meanwhile, was thrilled.
"Excessive? So what? No need to agonize. Lifetime governor of Gurye—and you get to meet His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Seoyeonn, for a normal person, sure—but our Chairman Taeju's different. Look, he's already annoyed."
"R-really?"
"Greater authority means greater responsibility."
Baek Hongpyo understood his heart perfectly.
"The choice is yours alone. Whatever you decide, I'll support and help you."
"Thank you."
Whether he accepted or not, the order was to enter the palace...
Meet the emperor first, then decide.
"Chairman, shall I assemble an entourage?"
"No, going solo this time. They said they'd send someone from the palace."
And so, another trip to New Seoul was set.
The day of entering the palace finally arrived.
Taeju arrived at New Seoul Station.
Yi Sam-baek, refusing to be left behind, had been forcibly left at Jirisan.
Dress code: leather coat.
A large bag in one hand.
Exiting the station, someone waited at the entrance with a sign bearing his name.
"Chairman Kim Taeju?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Welcome. I'm Seo Pilmyeong from the Imperial Secretariat."
"Ah! Nice to meet you."
"The honor's mine. Here, let me take your bag."
Taeju boarded the limo sent by the Imperial Secretariat.
The Samhan Empire's imperial palace lay beneath New Seoul's tallest mountain.
Surrounded by high walls, with the city's tallest tower at the center—that was the palace.
Only one entrance.
The limo carrying Taeju reached the first checkpoint into the palace.
Was this the palace?
No.
Not even close.
The palace was that vast.
The car stopped, ID checked, then proceeded inward. Seo Pilmyeong handed Taeju the pass from the gate guards.
"Wear this around your neck."
He did.
"Straight to the palace?"
"No. To the Grand Hall visitor lounge first."
Why was everything so huge?
Grand Hall.
A massive space like an airport terminal.
Restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops for visitors.
It doubled as a social stage.
People glancing at each other's passes, sizing them up, exchanging greetings.
Taeju, needing no socializing, quietly followed Secretary Seo Pilmyeong.
"This way to security."
"Got it."
A long line at security.
Crowds everywhere.
Have to wait?
"This way."
Seo Pilmyeong led him to an empty lane.
VIP security, apparently.
After passing with his bag,
"Hmm..."
The final checkpoint to the palace.
Vast, first off.
Crowds lining up at numbered gates.
"The last gate into the palace."
"Yeah?"
"We're taking Gate 1."
The emperor's residence: Gate 1. Inner palace for empresses: Gate 2. Crown prince and princes' annexes: Gate 3. Administrative offices: Gate 4. Event halls: Gate 5.
Taeju stood with Seo Pilmyeong at Gate 1.
Just me?
Seemed so.
Was meeting the emperor that easy?
No one had lined up at Gate 1 in years.
Only Taeju.
Other gates teemed, but Gate 1 had one—naturally drawing eyes.
People swarmed near Gate 1.
Taeju endured the stares, waiting for the door to open.
Gate 1 means meeting the emperor.
Who is it?
Meeting His Majesty? Has anyone seen him in years?
Just Secretary Geum Suhu and royals.
Wait—the pass says... Kim Taeju?
Ah! Taehong Bio!
Oh, that's the chairman?
Makes sense for Kim Taeju.
Only someone like that gets a private audience.
He heard it all.
Felt the hot gazes too.
Taeju turned absently.
Their eyes met.
At Gate 2 next door, waiting with uniformed generals: a middle-aged couple.
Taeju startled.
He knew who they were instantly.
...Father.
Major General Kim Ungbang and stepmother Honda Mitsui.
Of all places, here?
What to say?
Taeju just stared silently at Kim Ungbang.
They gazed for a long moment.
A wordless exchange passed between them.
Taeju could guess what his father was saying.
Suddenly!
Gate 1 opened.
"Taehong Bio Chairman Kim Taeju, please enter via Gate 1."
Kim Ungbang turned slowly, showing his back.
Taeju watched his retreating figure a beat, then turned away.
He entered Gate 1 under Secretary Seo Pilmyeong's guidance.
Kim Ungbang didn't watch his entering son.
Pointless talk between strangers now.
Any warmth toward Taeju, and his wife would nag endlessly.
To seize his son's wealth and power.
That's enough.
Born a mana rejector, not expected past mid-twenties.
Pride in his successful son.
But shame outweighed it.
No face to show him.
No more meetings.
No calling first—or answering if called.
How to face his son?
Nothing given.
Taeju's birth mother was his instructor's daughter at the academy.
A civilian, but love at first sight—they married.
His instructor approved, gifting an elixir as dowry.
That propelled him to master rank.
Tragically, his frail wife died birthing Taeju.
Holding her dying hand, he'd sworn.
To raise their son right.
But learning Taeju was a mana rejector—crushing loss.
Even my son leaving early?
Weakened, he needed support.
Remarried.
Human hearts are strange.
Time blurred his wife's face; the mana rejector son became a burden.
He knew it was wrong, but feelings wouldn't turn.
New family now.
Even learning his new wife tried killing Taeju—he overlooked it.
Guilt tormented him ceaselessly.
But his disowned son succeeded alone.
Now, peace.
Live well.
Honda Mitsui, meanwhile, trembled with rage.
Overhearing the blatant murmurs.
Mostly sneers.
Humiliation burned her face red.
But her husband Kim Ungbang strolled off nonchalantly.
"You..."
This moment, she hated him more than Kim Taeju.
Enough to kill.
Unable to contain her boiling fury, Honda Mitsui's face flushed crimson.
She looked like a wrathful demon.
End of Entering the Palace (1)