When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 6
Side Story 6
While the fragments touched by the mystical rain brought by the celestials had all disappeared, those he had secretly collected and hidden before then still retained their form.
The fragment the Left State Councillor possessed was initially small enough to fit in the palm of his hand.
But after inquiring about others who might have picked up fragments and buying up all he could find, he had managed to amass enough to fill his embrace.
As he placed his hand on the wooden box, an unnatural exhilaration surged through him, and energy welled up from deep within his body.
“Ha…”
A moan escaped his lips involuntarily. How could such a sensation exist?
When he first came into contact with the fragment, his entire body had stiffened like stone, and he was startled.
But that seemed to be a process of the fragment transforming his body. Since then, the Left State Councillor had been astonished to see his wrinkles fading day by day.
‘With this, even eternal life is not a dream!’
This was now his lifeline.
However, this treasure was gradually losing its power over time.
At first, it had pulsed with energy, threatening to burst the wooden box, but now it only emitted a black aura within a handspan of the lid, and even that was indistinct.
‘How can I preserve it? I can’t lose this precious thing, but what can I do?’
Then he remembered the Lake of Blood that the Black Dragon had craved.
This fragment had come from that Black Dragon, and the main body of this treasure, the Black Dragon, seemed to feed on the blood and essence of humans, didn't it?
‘Then couldn’t this fragment also be sustained by human blood and essence?’
So he conducted a few experiments. He brought in lowly commoners, slaughtered them, and placed the wooden box on their blood-soaked corpses.
The thrill he felt as the black deathly energy consumed the corpses and grew stronger was indescribable.
Moreover, the more he held the fragment, the more he felt like it understood him.
‘The Black Dragon needed an entire lake; killing a few humans won't make much difference.’
Besides, the King was currently tightening security.
If he tried to feed this treasure as much as it needed, even if it was only commoners, he would surely be caught.
‘So what should I do?’
As he pondered, his thoughts turned to Jung Chihwa, the Minister of Rites’ daughter, the friend of the celestials.
‘There must be something special about her for those celestials to befriend her.’
‘Or perhaps they gifted her something mystical.’
‘What’s inside this box also came from an auspicious beast, the same kind as the celestials, didn't it?’
‘So, if I could feed the Minister’s daughter to what’s inside this box, perhaps this precious power could be preserved.’
‘Moreover, by adopting her, I could gain a reputation for caring for my deceased friend’s daughter. And if she dies in my house, it wouldn’t be difficult to disguise it as an illness or accident.’
The Left State Councillor’s gaze drifted, calculating his gains.
His lips curled into a sinister smile.
Jung Chihwa’s face was dark and pale as she left the room.
She hadn’t been able to sleep properly for the past few days, her nerves on edge due to the intruders.
‘If they had continued their attempts, I wouldn’t be this anxious.’
The intruders hadn’t made any further moves since that day.
‘They’re not the type to give up so easily. What are they planning?’
‘Are they trying to lull me into a false sense of security? To strike when I least expect it?’
‘This is really getting on my nerves. If they’re going to do something, they should just do it instead of dawdling like this.’
As she paced the courtyard until dusk, a faint sound that piqued her senses reached her ears.
Jung Chihwa quickly grabbed the club she had hidden.
‘Finally. You think I’m easy prey, but you’re in for a rude awakening.’
She stealthily followed the sound.
The suspicious noise was coming from the pit beneath the wall.
‘Aha! Gotcha!’
Thinking that digging a few scattered pits wasn’t enough, she had expanded the trap, making it like a moat, and filled it generously with oil.
Unlike water, the oil wouldn’t be absorbed by the soil, making it quite difficult to climb out.
After glancing around, she picked up some stones from the ground.
‘No. These are too small; they won’t do much damage. Is there anything bigger?’
Just then, she spotted a servant carrying a water jar.
Chihwa quickly dropped her club and went to take the jar.
Although the jar was small, the weight of the water inside was significant. This should be enough to crack the skull of whoever was trapped in the pit.
She carefully made her way back, carrying the water jar.
She even took off her shoes to approach silently. As if sensing her presence, the movement in the pit grew more frantic.
‘Think you can escape?’
Gritting her teeth, as soon as she was close enough, Jung Chihwa hurled the water jar into the pit where someone was struggling like an insect.
Splash! Thud! Crash!
“Ugh!”
“Huh?”
‘That voice…?’
Recognizing the familiar voice, Chihwa peered into the pit.
There, looking up at her with a dumbfounded and irritated expression, was the strange man she had met a few days ago.
Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t been hit on the head by the water jar.
“…This is… ridiculous.”
As he said this, roughly taking off his dripping hat, Chihwa retorted sharply, as if asking who was supposed to be making that face,
“What’s ridiculous about it? You’re the one trespassing! The homeowner is the one who should be feeling ridiculous!”
“…Whatever. Just throw me down a rope.”
“A rope? As if I owe you one.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re a trespasser whose intentions are unknown, and your attitude is appalling. Stop your nonsense and stay put. I’m going to get another water jar and crack your skull open.”
“Your tone… Don't you remember? It was just a few days ago. I saved you. I'm the one who suggested these pits.”
“Are you delusional? You’re saying you willingly crawled into the pit you suggested? That makes you look like an idiot. So just stay there and pretend you didn’t suggest it.”
“Besides, advice is just advice. There weren't any attacks yesterday, so why are you trespassing again?”
“...”
“Tell me. I might consider throwing you a rope after hearing your answer. Why did you sneak in here like a mole again?”
“You keep accusing me of being ruthless, but I didn't come here to do anything…”
“You didn’t?”
“Well…”
“Well?”
“Well… you see… I have… some debts.”
“What?”
“Well, there’s that… Anyway, just get me out of here.”
“Whatever, I’m going to get the water jar.”
“Have you forgotten that I saved you? I’m your lifesaver!”
“You talk too much for a trespasser.”
“...”
The man fell silent, as if at a loss for words. But then…
“Ugh!”
The man, who had been trembling slightly, suddenly crumpled as if collapsing.
“Um, then at least give me some medicine. I think I got cut by a shard from the water jar you threw…”
“...”
“…It’s true. The pain is getting worse. I’ll stay put in this pit as you wish, just please give me some medicine.”
“…Please.”
Chihwa looked down at the man, whose voice trembled as if he was truly in pain, her gaze cold.
‘Does he think I’m an idiot? Who does he think he’s fooling with such pathetic acting?’
But then something caught her eye.
Despite the darkened soil, saturated with oil, she could see a red liquid spreading, unable to be absorbed immediately.
The man’s ash-grey robe was the same. A red stain, starting from his side, quickly spread downwards.
‘Oh my god.’
“You’re really hurt?!”
Chihwa was taken aback. She had intended to immobilize him and hand him over to the authorities, but she hadn’t meant to hurt him.
She hurriedly fetched medicinal herbs and medicine, and lowered them into the pit with a rope.
Even if this was another act, if he showed any signs of trying to climb out using the rope, she would immediately let go. She had assumed he would be fine because…
…she had grossly underestimated the man's agility.
As soon as the rope reached him, the line went taut as if he was untying a knot, and before she could react, he yanked it.
After a brief moment, the man was already out of the pit.
“...”
“Next time someone falls in there, just call the officials, don’t do anything stupid.”
“W-What is the meaning of this?!”
“Instead of running around with a water jar, trying to crack open a trespasser's head, learn not to be so easily fooled.”
Without looking back, he scrambled over the wall and ran as if he would never return.
Chihwa stared after him, dumbfounded, and bit her lip in frustration.
“…Damn it. I’m the biggest fool of all.”
Why did she bother being so nosy? Whether that scoundrel lived or died was none of her business.
And she could have just thrown the herbs down, regardless of whether they got soaked in oil or mud.
She had tied them to a rope, trying to be considerate, and ended up letting the captured trespasser escape.
“Stupid.”
Looking at the pit where he had fallen, she realized she would have to reapply the oil, as he had scraped away the oil-soaked mud from the walls.
“He’s not coming back, is he?”
Normally, he wouldn’t, but she had a strange premonition that this wasn’t the end.
“I’ll have to think of other traps.”
If he came back, she would dig a trap he could never escape from. Just as Chihwa, fuming, clenched her fists after rolling on the ground in frustration, a servant called out to her,
“My Lady! Someone from the palace has arrived!”
‘From the palace?’
Surprised, Chihwa rushed to the gate. The court attendant waiting for her bowed and handed her a letter wrapped in fine paper.
“His Majesty wishes to inquire about your opinion, My Lady.”
‘My opinion? Why would my opinion matter in His Majesty’s affairs?’
With a puzzled look, Jung Chihwa untied the string and read the letter.
She unconsciously murmured a phrase,
“A joint… Funeral…?”
Thank you so much dear Translator for the wonderful chapters!🌺
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