The road to Anseong was peaceful.
And contributing to that peace was the fact that Haje was sick from drink.
“Even a Gap Grade Messenger gets hangovers?”
“You’re even stranger to me, you punk.”
Unlike Haje, Wonhyeok had spent the night sipping liquor with the moon as his companion and somehow emptied three whole jars.
He had felt so guilty toward the innkeeper that he left after handing her as many as ten nyang in coins.
Of course, half of that money had come from Haje, so opening his coin purse had been easy enough.
Looking fresh-faced and polished, as though liquor meant nothing to him, Wonhyeok cast Haje a sidelong glance.
“For someone who is Number One, getting sick from drink....”
“Are you even human? Whether it’s a person or some uncanny power or wicked spirit, liquor works on them all. What are you, immune to all poisons or something?”
“Impervious to All Poisons? That sounds rather cool.”
“Damn it.”
Wonhyeok smiled brightly.
Right. The best way to deal with Joseon’s Number One was to be shamelessly bold with him!
Unfortunately, even the high-ranking Messengers had said that the only way to terminate a record stone contract was for both parties to agree to dissolve it.
Haje’s contract even came with a “wish token,” but still.
The two had somehow reached a tentative peace.
In any case, after setting out with Haje, who reeked of liquor, Wonhyeok asked where they were going.
“We’re heading to Geumgwang Lake in Anseong.”
“Geumgwang Lake. Do you think there is still gold there?”
“The places where gold can still be found are managed by the local government. If you’re curious, go wrestle with the sand there. Who knows? You might find some gold dust.”
“...Honestly, if I had the time....”
“Are you serious?”
In any case, Geumgwang Lake. Was it large enough for boating?
If Haje heard that, he would say, “Boating? Hey, either save money or indulge in luxury. Pick one, you bastard.”
Even if they did go boating, it would feel different without the friends and relatives who usually joined him.
“Then what is happening at Geumgwang Lake? It does not seem like another corrupt-official case.”
“Right. This time, it is work meant for Messengers exactly at our level.”
‘Then the previous two cases were not?’
Wonhyeok glanced at Haje for a moment, but Haje merely sighed deeply and continued.
“We’ll be dealing with uncanny powers and wicked spirits. An official from the Office of the Inspector-General has vanished mysteriously in a village near Geumgwang Lake.”
“...Not the Office of Ghostly Inspection, but the Office of the Inspector-General?”
“Yes. It was discovered a little late. He had not gone to that village because of work, after all. Some lunatic working at the Office of the Inspector-General failed to show up when his shift began. They tracked him down, and ta-da. This village in Anseong seemed suspicious.”
As Wonhyeok listened, he thought about it.
If the matter had fallen under the jurisdiction of Ghost Gate Messengers because it was believed to involve uncanny powers and wicked spirits rather than people or wild animals, there had to be a reason.
“Is there a Ghost Gate in that village?”
“It would be easier if there were. All right, Clerk. You are a Gap Grade Messenger now, are you not? The warm-up is over.”
“What is a warm-up?”
“Warming.”
“Why are you warming me up?”
“Do not question it. Just accept it. In any case, it is about time you began working in earnest.”
With that, Haje gradually shook off his hangover and began striding forward.
Wonhyeok remembered that he could now view the communication network as well, so he hurriedly opened the chatroom.
Perhaps because it was morning, the chatroom was quiet as expected.
[Chatroom: (Upper Ranks) / 25 people are present!]
Asura (9th): So Mountain Lord has gone down the mountain again? Seriously, what is he trying to do? Is this why I stay at Mountain Lord’s side? An unbearable sense of self-reproach is washing over me.
Danhyang (3rd): Goodness, Sohu is having a hard time from the morning onward~ You woke up early to check, yet he still ran away?
Asura (9th): I did not sleep today either.
Danhyang (3rd): ^.^ ...That tiger who escaped even with you there is rather formidable....
Cheongok (13th): Sohu, do not wear yourself out. Just grab another bastard and fill the position.
Asura (9th): Thank you for saying so, at least.
Jade Willow (10th): Hello. I am currently heading to Geumgwang Lake in Anseong. Does anyone know about a case that happened around there?
“You went running off to ask about it just like that?”
“I do not think you would tell me, Haje.”
“Right. Correct answer. This is a good chance for you to learn to stand on your own as a Ghost Gate Messenger.”
Stand on his own. Could a civil-examination Ghost Gate Messenger truly stand alone?
Of the Gap Grade Ghost Gate Messengers in Joseon, Haje was the only one who had taken the military examination. The spirit shaman and Danhyang had both taken the technical examination.
However, the spirit shaman was famous for outstanding martial ability despite having taken the technical examination. Someone called Seo Jukdang had bragged about it in the chatroom while pretending not to.
Danhyang was such a renowned physician that even Wonhyeok, an outsider, knew of him.
People said he mainly handled cleanup rather than inspections, but that did not mean he had no fighting ability at all.
But here stood this newly Awakened Gap Grade Ghost Gate Messenger, Lee Wonhyeok.
No fighting ability whatsoever! Stamina at rock bottom! No knowledge of the trade!
What a despairing résumé.
The only reason he had not struggled to keep up with Haje during the day was because he was using <Farm by Day, Read by Night>....
Then Asura posted a message in the chatroom.
Asura (9th): Oh, Geumgwang Lake in Anseong? That is where an official from the Office of the Inspector-General disappeared recently.
Cheongok (13th): You know a lot, Sohu. I have not heard of it.
Asura (9th): It is part of my work. That village has already swallowed up eight people dispatched by the Office of the Inspector-General to find the missing official. They obtained authorization and mobilized government troops, but strangely, the troops could not enter the village. They wandered around near the lake, then returned by the route they had come. So, the Office of the Inspector-General asked Ghost Gate Messengers for assistance. However, considering the nature of the case, individual Messengers appear to be avoiding it. They decided that only Byeong Grade Messengers or above would handle it.
Danhyang (3rd): Ah, judging from the government troops who came to receive treatment, it does not seem to be a monster but a ghost.... Yet I have never seen a ghost set up a formation like that. Haje, you are too much, taking a Messenger who has only just Awakened to a place like that.
Asura (9th): Well, it is not as though Haje would kill his accompanying inspector. Since he brought him there, he ought to take responsibility.
Haje (1st): You are having a hard time because of Mountain Lord, yet you are still giving advice. Entertaining.
Asura suddenly stopped talking.
Wonhyeok turned to Haje and voiced his complaint.
“Why are you threatening Asura? Asura seems to know quite a bit.”
“They have not come here themselves. They are merely listing facts gathered through their own methods. You have heard enough. Be satisfied, and think about seeing the rest for yourself, Clerk.”
That was true as well.
Quickly accepting the point, Wonhyeok hurriedly posted, “Thank you, Asura and Danhyang,” in the chatroom before continuing onward.
After walking for two hours, and after Haje carried Wonhyeok like luggage and leaped several times, Geumgwang Lake in Anseong was right before them.
Wonhyeok asked, “They said the government troops wandered around this area. Will that happen to us too?”
“There were no Ghost Gate Messengers among the troops, so there is no way to know yet.”
“What if we do get lost?”
“Clerk, powerful physical force can solve most things even without using your head.”
Ghost Gate Messengers....
Wonhyeok looked at Haje with a sour expression.
Ignoring him, Haje strode into a narrow path beside the lake. Then he tilted his head.
“Oh. This is remarkable.”
“What is? Gasp!”
Wonhyeok followed Haje onto the path, looked around, and gave a start.
People who had not been visible until just moments ago were walking along the road, each leading an ox cart or carrying an A-frame pack on their backs.
Perhaps they had not even noticed Haje and Wonhyeok’s sudden appearance. They continued onward in small groups, chatting among themselves.
Haje tilted his head at an angle and narrowed his eyes.
“There are guardian posts here.... Yet they are not doing their job.”
At that, Wonhyeok looked to the end of the path as well.
The Great General Under Heaven and the Great General Under Earth.
The two male-and-female guardian posts stood firmly in place, but even Wonhyeok could see that the ghostly aura surrounding them was unusually vivid.
The ghosts had already made an opening in this place.
“This truly is a matter Ghost Gate Messengers must resolve.”
“Right. And I think even a Byeong Grade Messenger would have struggled here. Still, there are two Gap Grade Messengers with us. Reassuring, is it not?”
“May I be honest? I only trust you, Haje.”
Haje burst into laughter.
The two soon stopped talking and headed toward the village.
As they entered its outskirts, an old man driving an ox cart spotted them and spoke.
“Oh my, who are these outsiders? What brings you to our village?”
Before Wonhyeok could answer, Haje spoke first.
“We came to see Geumgwang Lake.”
“Your clothes are rather strange....”
“We are Ghost Gate Messengers.”
“Ah, I see! There is a skillful shaman in our village, so there should be no reason for Ghost Gate Messengers to come here. Did you come to have your fortunes told? Do Ghost Gate Messengers read fortunes as well?”
At those words, Wonhyeok’s eyes lit up.
There was not the slightest sign of aversion on the old man’s face when he spoke of the shaman.
Ever since the Ghost Gate era began, there had been Guild <Manshin> and others, and even among shamans there were those who worked as Ghost Gate Messengers....
Moreover, Joseon’s current Number Two was a shaman!
Naturally, shamans were no longer scorned as they had been in the past.
‘Still, the presence of a shaman does not mean Ghost Gate Messengers are unnecessary.’
An Unawakened shaman was, in other words, someone who specialized in shamanic rites.
[Chatroom: (Private) / Haje]
Jade Willow (10th): Am I still missing something? If a shaman is skilled, can they replace a Ghost Gate Messenger?
Haje (1st): If a child grows a little taller, can they replace an adult? Of course not. They can write talismans and stop ghosts from creeping in to some extent, but even that has its limits. Ordinary shamans are especially powerless against monsters.
After replying in the chatroom, Haje spoke to the old man.
“Well, only shamans tell fortunes. Ghost Gate Messengers cannot conduct shamanic divination, can they?”
“Hahaha! That is true! The old shaman of our village is skilled. I hope you receive a fine fortune.”
After ending the conversation appropriately, Haje nodded in farewell and strode ahead with Wonhyeok in tow.
The ghostly aura was so dense, yet the villagers passing along the road seemed perfectly cheerful. That unsettled Wonhyeok, and he asked Haje through the chatroom.
Jade Willow (10th): The ghostly aura is this dense. Do they not feel it at all? Not even at night?
Haje (1st): Clerk, you have had dog eyes since birth, so it may seem strange to you, but ordinary people do not know that sort of thing. If they cannot see it, they cannot see it to the end. And if uncanny powers and wicked spirits are determined to hide, people may not see them even at night.
Jade Willow (10th): You think the shaman is suspicious too, do you not?
Haje (1st): Yes. If it is not the shaman, who could do something like this? I do not know whether she set up the formation expecting Ghost Gate Messengers to come, or whether she only intended to stop government troops from entering.
At that moment, boisterous voices came from the village square.
The villagers had all gathered together to boil pork.
Haje’s eyes narrowed.
A tall woman stood among the villagers. Judging by her white ritual robes, she seemed to be the village shaman.
When she sensed the two approaching, she lifted her head.
Unexpectedly, she was a woman with delicate, neat features.
She smiled brightly.
“Guests have arrived!”