The Transmitted Will (1)
My words left Kwon Jik, the grand leader, staring at me in shock.
“What do you mean by that? You're going to do it yourself?!”
“Since I suggested it, I believe it's only right that I take responsibility.”
I thought it was proper to own up to the ideas I put forward.
Shirking that responsibility meant tossing out opinions and decisions too lightly.
And that led straight to wasting money.
Those who squandered it bit by bit while idling wasted less than the ones who blew it all at once.
One of the things I hated most was throwing money into the wind.
With that in mind, I told Kwon Jik.
“Don't worry.”
In truth, I wasn't worried at all.
I had confidence in my skills, but even if I seemed in danger, Seo-hyang Sojeo would have sent Palgap by now.
And selecting the deer's antler made of wood was almost certainly the correct answer.
I approached the stone statue and carefully grasped the antler with my hand.
A satisfied smile crept across my face.
Just as I thought.
The antler wasn't fixed in place—it seemed pressing it would do the trick.
I cautiously pushed it down, and it slid smoothly inward.
Rumble rumble rumble.
At the same time, the ground shook with a deep groan, and a door appeared before us, leading downward into the earth.
“Solved it!”
“We finally cracked the riddle!”
“Woooaaah!”
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Kwon Jik said to me,
“Thank you. We solved the riddle thanks to you.”
“It was the result of everyone's efforts.”
“I figured you'd say that. But your contribution is undeniable.”
Cha Jangdu approached me.
“The grand leader's right. That said, the real challenge starts now—brace yourself.”
“Of course.”
I nodded and examined the door leading underground.
Words were inscribed on the stone door.
“There's something written here.”
“Leave it to us from here.”
“Please do.”
I stepped back willingly, recalling the inscription I'd read.
To the traveler who has come this far, I wonder who you might be.
Are you our enemy?
A passing guest?
A close friend?
Or perhaps our descendant?
If you pressed the deer's horn to reveal this door, then you are surely an enemy or a passing guest.
If enemy, take this warning and turn back.
Within lie obstacles you cannot endure—ones that may seem like mere pranks until now.
Guest, turn back as well.
What lies inside holds no value for you and will only claim your life in vain.
You who arrived here following the deer's guidance, bearing proof of friendship and trust.
Aid my descendants.
Descendant who shed blood to follow the guidance and reach this place.
What remains inside is our will—realize it through this.
I pondered deeply.
The inscription's meaning wasn't hard to grasp.
It was a warning and plea left by the sword tomb's creators.
It told enemies and guests to turn back.
It asked friends to help the descendants and urged the descendants to realize the will.
But notably, there were no warnings for friends or descendants.
That nagged at me.
It implied that true friends or descendants could enter without any hardship.
[Proof of friendship and trust]
And [shedding blood]
A sudden thought flashed through my mind after deep consideration.
No way... is that it?
I approached Kwon Jik and made a polite request.
“There's something I'd like to verify. Could we step outside for a short break and return?”
“Go out and come back in?”
“Yes. Please convince Cha Jangdu as well.”
Cha Jangdu was intently reading the inscription on the stone door.
Kwon Jik watched him for a moment, seeming lost in thought.
Just as I wondered if I needed to explain more, he chuckled and spoke.
“Let's do that. Cha Jangdu!”
“Yes, did you call for me?”
“Let's step out for a bit and clear our heads.”
“Now?”
“The sword tomb isn't going anywhere. Besides, the air here doesn't circulate well—staying too long is dangerous.”
“True. Poor ventilation can cause hallucinations sometimes.”
Thankfully, Cha Jangdu followed Kwon Jik's lead without protest.
“Work halt! Everyone out!”
The exploration paused, and the team headed outside.
“Ahem. So, what prompted the break?”
Cha Jangdu asked quietly as I approached.
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“You think I'm that oblivious? I've survived to this age thanks to that insight.”
Sharp as ever.
Old ginger is indeed the hottest, as they say.
I nodded.
“There was something I wanted to check outside. Do you remember the inscription on the stone door?”
“Of course.”
“That's why. If we can show proof as a friend or confirm descendant status, maybe we can enter without resistance.”
“Makes sense. So you have something in mind?”
“Yes. I want to test it. And there's a personal matter too.”
I glanced back briefly as I spoke.
The sun was dipping low as we emerged outside.
Evening already.
Those waiting rushed over as we exited.
“What happened?”
“Is the exploration done?”
Kwon Jik replied,
“Not yet. We're taking a break and resuming tomorrow. The stale air was clouding our minds.”
“Understood.”
“I'd like to rest now.”
“We'll prepare right away.”
Late into the night.
Silhouettes moved stealthily toward the sword tomb under cover of darkness.
They wore straw sandals padded with beast fur to muffle footsteps and leave no tracks.
One among them had worked as a laborer, so they navigated without getting lost.
“Halt!”
A sentry stopped them.
“What's this?”
“Left something inside, came to grab it.”
“Careless fools. Hurry up and get it.”
“Thanks. Oh, by the way—anyone go in ahead of us?”
“No one's inside.”
“Appreciate the info, daehyeop.”
They slipped into the sword tomb unhindered.
“With all the traps disarmed, this is a breeze! Should've spread the rumor sooner—would've made exploring this easy.”
“Tell me about it. All that effort finding this place...”
“Dealing with the Gold Guards dispatched here was the real hassle.”
They whispered as they advanced, soon reaching the stone door.
“This it?”
“Yeah.”
The former laborer spoke.
“The entrance that appeared after solving the riddle.”
“Then we report to the higher-ups first. You and I go in.”
“No, better wait for orders. There's a warning inscription here.”
“We could always intercept whatever they excavate.”
That was when it happened.
“Who dares disturb our slumber?!”
A thunderous roar echoed suddenly.
They panicked.
“Wh-where's that coming from?!”
“Who else is here besides us?”
“The sentry said it was empty!”
But the booming voice continued unrelenting.
“You who rashly awaken our sleep! You shall not escape the curse!”
“Hiiieeeek!”
In the pitch-black, empty sword tomb.
The voice from nowhere made their legs give out, collapsing on the spot.
Human imagination knows no bounds, and fear amplifies endlessly through it.
“Uwaaaak!”
They scrambled up and fled the sword tomb in terror.
I watched the fleeing intruders with fear-stricken faces and said,
“Well done, Yeo Eung-am Warrior.”
“No trouble at all.”
The voice that startled them belonged to Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
And Jin Yu Warrior was tailing them.
I had reason for sparing their lives here.
To uncover their higher-ups' location.
I'd known their identities from the start—including the laborer's.
That thick, bloody black道 aura was impossible to miss.
Though others might not notice.
My group and I quietly exited the sword tomb and returned to our lodgings.
It was too late to press on.
At dawn, after morning meditation and breakfast, I headed to Yeon Yu-mun Gongja.
Early, but we'd arranged a meeting—no issue.
Yet I ran into an unexpected figure there.
Seo-im Daehyeop—no, the princess.
She'd shed her male disguise for princess attire.
I bowed deeply in respect.
“Merchant Eun Seo-ho greets Your Highness the Princess.”
“Raise your head.”
“Yes.”
I asked her,
“What brings you here?”
“I've been staying here since arriving. We're married now—what's the problem?”
“......Married?”
“We've already consummated.”
“......”
Lightning fast.
I couldn't help but be stunned by the speed.
This was less her will and more the Emperor's.
With consummation done, the marriage was sealed.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Save the well-wishes for the formal ceremony.”
“I'll offer them properly then.”
“Yes. My husband will be out shortly—wait just a moment.”
A short while later.
Yeon Yu-mun Gongja emerged, prepared, and we headed to the sword tomb.
“Happy with the marriage?”
“Hahaha. Yes.”
“You were full of worries just days ago—now you're a different man.”
He looked to the sky and replied,
“Being toyed with by His Majesty comes later. For now, I'm just enjoying reality.”
He continued,
“And as a wife, she's more than satisfactory—undeserved, even.”
“Everything has a price. Call it compensation.”
“......True.”
He gave a wry smile and nodded, then asked,
“Why invite me to the sword tomb with you?”
“I have a request. First, a question: how old is Chunggyeong Fortress's history?”
He pondered briefly.
“Quite old. A few hundred years, I'd say.”
“So you're a descendant of its original inhabitants?”
“Yes. My family has lived here for generations. One ancestral edict was never to leave this place.”
“I see.”
My guess was spot on.
We reached the sword tomb entrance, and I pulled out a needle.
“Sorry, but may I draw a bit of blood from your hand?”
“My blood?”
“Yes. To test something related to the sword tomb.”
He extended his hand readily.
“No big deal.”
I pricked his palm, drew blood, and instructed,
“Now press your bleeding hand to the sword tomb door.”
He did as told.
That instant—
Rumble rumble grind.
Mechanisms shifted. Then—
Shing, clack!
The sounds stopped, and the door slid open on its own.
Yes! Just as I thought.
I told Seo-u Warrior,
“Fetch Grand Leader Kwon and Cha Jangdu immediately. Tell them it's urgent—hurry.”
“Yes.”
They arrived soon after, breathless.
“What is it?”
“What's the emergency?”
Instead of words, I pointed to the sword tomb.
“Look here.”
“Huh?”
“Hm?”
They quickly noticed the change.
No trace remained of the rubble from the rock that had fallen here before.
“How...?”
I explained simply.
“I figured the 'descendant' in the inscription referred to Yeon Yu-mun Gongja's family. They've lived in Chunggyeong Fortress for centuries. Using his blood opened the door—and cleared this path.”
It stemmed from that line: “Descendant who shed blood to follow the guidance and reach this place.”
The sword tomb recognized descendants via blood.
In my previous life, all bearing the fortress lord's bloodline were slain.
Given their methods, they'd likely forced their way in.
I wonder.
Did they succeed in exploring it after wiping out the key—the bloodline?
They might have realized too late upon seeing the inscription.
But now was different.
“Shall we go in?”
I asked the guards to watch the entrance and stepped inside.
We gasped in awe.
“Whoa......”
“This is......”
Not a single trap—the ones that had plagued us—remained. None at all.
A straight, unobstructed path.
We reached the stone door with the inscription—taking a mere fraction of the day-and-a-half it had before.
“Whew, at this point, it feels almost anticlimactic.”
Tell me about it.
I told Yeon Yu-mun Gongja,
“Open this door, please.”
“Yes.”
He did.
But the reactions of the others—everyone except me—were strange.